Hi? 



fiwf 



J. !-... 







leiinn 



•~r. rrtK-^iiA 




Oiass^£x^344SL 



Book 



Copyright N°- 



COPYPJGHT DEPOSIT. 




E. R. BECKMAN AND THYRA. 
Picture taken at Stockholm, Sweden, in April 1911. 



The Massacre at Sianfu 



AND 



Other Experiences in Connection With the 

Scandinavian Alliance Mission 

of North America 



BY 

E. R. Beckman 




CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 1913 






r 



Copyrighted, 1913, by E. R. Beekman 




©CI.A343663 
)U)I 



Preface. 



The terrible incident which took place at Si- 
anfu, China, ivhen the revolution broke out there 
in October 1911, has greatly stirred up the feel- 
ings of a large number of friends of the Mission 
in the homelands. 

I have repeatedly been asked to relate the story 
of this outrage by which some of my fellow work- 
ers and I were cruelly bereaved our dear ones, 
whose blood ivas shed, so to speak, to saturate the 
gospel seed which had been sown during the pre- 
ceeding years; and how I succeeded to rescue my 
youngest child, a four year old girl, by running 
through the raging mob, which pursued and hunt- 
ed me throughout the night. 

In order to satisfy the many friends who 
wished to knotv the details of this incident and 
still avoid the hard task of continually repeating 
this heartrending story, a book was published in 
the Swedish language soon after I arrived in 
Sweden on my way from China relating this sor- 
rowful event. The first edition of this book was 
soon exhausted and ivas folloived by a second 
edition, 



On my arrival in the United States I met ivith 
a number of friends who expressed their desire to 
have this little book published in the English lan- 
guage. To comply with these their wishes, it is 
herewith sent forth among the wide circle of 
English speaking friends. Owing to my inferior 
knowledge of the language it has been involved 
with much difficulty to accomplish this. Hoping 
that my readers will have forbearance ivith my 
shortcomings, it is my sincere desire that this 
story may serve to increase your interest in the 
noble ivork which all Christians have been com- 
missioned to accomplish for our blessed Master 
in this world. 

As there are many of our English speaking 
friends to whom the existence of the Scandinav- 
ian Alliance Mission is not known I have briefly 
mentioned how this Mission was founded and 
some of its work. 

Chicago, Feb. 1913. 

E. R. BECKMAN. 



••••••» -•••••^ ••!••!*• .••**•• ••••*•• •••*••• .•••••„ ••!••!•• ••••*•• ••••••• 

•V-Vy :« MV"-.:.': :.' : y7:% V7:Vy :*: K**U*::: \/ : :\ *: 
• :•••• •••• •••• ••••:••••. • •••• •••• *.•••; 

v ••••• ••••• • v ••••• ••••• » 



The Scandinavian Alliance Mission. 

In the end of the year 1889 Dr. J. Hudson 
Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, 
published a paper, entitled, To Every Creature, 
in which he pleaded for one thousand men and 
women to be sent to China in addition to the 
missionaries already at work there, to make it 
possible for every one in that dark land to hear 
the Gospel preached to them. 

A few months later, the Missionary Con- 
ference, assembled in Shanghai, also made an 
appeal to the home churches, earnestly pleading 
for one thousand men for the work of Christian 
evangelization in China. The Rev. Fredrick 
Franson who for many years had been exten- 
sively engaged in evangelistic work in American 
and European countries, was at this time con- 
ducting an evangelistic campaign in Germany. 
The plea for one thousand missionaries appealed 
so powerfully to him, that he immediately started 



8 

to interest Christians in the mission cause. 
The result was, that the German Alliance Mission 
was founded, and a party of missionaries soon 
started for China in connection with this mission. 
No sooner were these missionaries on their way 
to the mission field than Mr. Franson returned 
to the United States with the aim of arousing 
interest in the spiritual welfare of China. His 
undertaking was crowned with success. It resul- 
ted in the founding of the Scandinavian Alliance 
Mission in connection with which a number of 
missionaries have gone to mission fields in dif- 
ferent lands. In the beginning of the year 1891 
no less than fifty misionaries set sail for China, 
to work in association with the China Inland 
Mission. 

It is quite evident that Mr. Franson was led 
by the Spirit of God in sending forth these new 
workers, many of them being previously prepared 
for this step. 

As for myself, long before ever hearing of the 
mentioned appeal from China, or of Mr. Fran- 
son's plans, I distinctly had felt a call to devote 
myself to the Lord's work. I had heard the 
voice of God pleading with me to be ready for His 
service, and not to entangle myself in any affairs 
that would hinder me from going at His bidding. 
Early in the summer of 1889 I attended a 
meeting where the minister spoke of China and 
its need of the Gospel. As he said that there 










REV. F. FRANSON. 



10 

might be someone in this very audience whom 
the Lord would have go there to preach the Glad 
Tidings, I realized a voice saying to my heart that 
I should go. At first I strongly opposed the idea, 
saying to myself that it is not possible that God 
would have me to go to China. I am not capable 
of filling such a great calling. The Sunday School 
work which I had started seemed more suitable 
to me, and surely it would be serving the Lord 
to keep at that. By the time the speaker had 
finished his sermon, I had pretty well cleared my 
mind from the sudden impulse of going to China. 
One of the ministers present, with whom I was 
well acquainted, came directly to me saying: 
"Richard, you should go to China !" I felt in- 
clined to oppose him, and replied in a manner of 
reproach, "When God says so!" These words 
had no sooner passed my lips than I realized the 
same voice saying, "I have already said so!" 

I hurried away from the meeting and when I 
reached home I felt very restless. I felt the need of 
someone with whom I could converse regarding 
these perplexing thoughts that had entered my 
mind, thinking thereby I could derive some help. 
It then occurred to me to spend the afternoon at 
the home of a Christian neighbor with whom I had 
frequently spent leisure hours, conversing upon 
spiritual things. As I was approaching his house 
he noticed me and came to meet me, saying: "I 
am glad to see you, Richard. I want to tell you 



11 

of a thought that came to my mind at the meet- 
ing this forenoon : I think the Lord would have 
you to go to the heathen — I believe He wants 
you to go to China." 

As these words were spoken I felt as though 
I was standing in the presence of God, and I said, 
"What is the clay in the hands of the potter — if 
the Lord wants me to go to China He is able to 
open the way for me." 

Although I was obstinate and slow-hearted in 
believing and following the guidance of the Spirit, 
and was constantly troubled by the cunning de- 
lusions of the Evil One, yet the Lord gradually 
led me out to proclaim the Gospel in the neigh- 
boring districts. I was kept in a waiting attitude 
for Him to open the way for me to go to China. 

In this way my heart was prepared to respond 
to the call for candidates to the Mission field, 
which was published in various religious papers 
when Mr. Franson came to America. I attended 
some of the preparatory courses given by him. 
After this I was accepted and sent out together 
with a party of fourteen others. We sailed from 
San Francisco on February 5th, 1891. A party 
of thirty-five had sailed two weeks before. 

The arrival of these new workers is given a 
place in "Story of the China Inland Mission," 
from which book the following description is 
taken : 



12 

"A few weeks after Mr. Taylor's return to 
Shanghai with the first reinforcements from Aus- 
tralia, the largest missionary party ever known 
to arrive in China was given to the China Inland 
Mission in one day, and that without our having 
done anything in the matter, either written a 
word, or spent a penny, or made one single effort 
to bring them; just given of God in answer to 
prayer, part of the coming thousand ! They were 
the first thirty-five members of the Scandinavian 
Alliance Mission, before alluded to, and were im- 
mediately followed by fifteen others, making a 
total of fifty within a fortnight. 

"Sent out and supported by the Scandinavian 
churches of North America, these earnest evan- 
gelists had come in direct response to the appeal 
for the Thousand. It was no small tax upon the 
resources of the Mission to undertake the recep- 
tion of so large a party without much warning. 
But within a few days of their arrival all were 
in Chinese dress, hard at work studying the 
language, and before many weeks had elapsed, 
suitable accommodation had been provided for 
them in the interior. 

"As typical of no unusual experience in the 
spacious compound of our Shanghai headquar- 
ters, the following notes are added: 

March 12th, 1891. 

'Thirteen of the Scandinavian brethren leave 
to-night for the Interior. How we shall miss 



13 

them! Strangers only a few days ago, they are 
now dear to us in the Lord. Forth they step into 
the darkness, their faces bright with Heaven's 
own radiance, songs on their lips, and music of 
love divine filling their hearts. ■ No fears for 
them, and their lives for the perishing.' 



"An hour ago, silence fell over the crowded 
room as the last words of our hymn died away, 
and Mr. Taylor, rising, came into the midst, and 
opened the word of God. Eagerly all turned to- 
wards him, with the bright look upon each face 
that told of heart-expectancy. Quietly fell the 
precious words of the 146th Psalm, as he read, 
verse by verse, unto the triumphant end. And 
then he talked to us in his own way, each sen- 
tence the very essence of deep and blessed ex- 
perience of what God is and can be to the soul 
that leans on Him alone. It was all about "the 
Lord." 

"First — He 'keepeth truth for ever.' To the 
dear brethren who are leaving us He says, "Lo 
I am with you always." Yes, and He "keepeth 
truth for ever." This has been the first home 
God has given you in China, but you will find that 
He has many homes here, and He will bring you 
to them as you go on. Wherever He is, is home. 
Is not home always where the Father is? Well, 



14 

He is with you everywhere, and always. So we 
are never away from home. 

You may be oppressed sometimes in China, 
and unfriendly treated. But the Lord "executeth 
judgment for the oppressed." You may some- 
times be without money; your friends may for- 
get you, or you may lose your all, and be in want. 
The Lord "giveth food to the hungry." You may 
be put in prison perhaps, for the Gosepl's sake, as 
many good men have been before. The Lord 
"looseth the prisoners." And sometimes we are 
blind indeed, not seeing any way out of our dif- 
ficulty, or how to find the right path. But it says, 
"the Lord openeth the eyes of the blind." How 
much better to the blind if He is leading us, and 
is going to open our eyes at the right time, than 
to be very sharp-sighted on our own account, and 
spy out a way for ourselves, that is sure to lead 
into difficulty and danger. 

"And then sometimes we are "bowed down." 
Who is there here that has never been discour- 
aged? Although we ought not to be, for it is a 
sin to be discouraged. Let us remember that 
"He shall not fail nor be discouraged" ; and while 
He does not, how dare we? If the General is 
going to win the battle the soldiers cannot lose 
it! Our Jesus has never lost a battle yet; so we 
are on the winning side. But sometimes we are 
"bowed down". Well, "the Lord raiseth up them 
that are bowed down." 



15 

'And finally, whoever may hate or despise us, 
"the Lord loveth the righteous." 

"And now let us remember it, "the Lord shall 
reign forever." There will never be a day in 
your life or mine when the Lord is not reigning." 

"Upon our knees, with full hearts, we com- 
mended one another to God in prayer. 

'Remember always, dear Lord, that they are 
not very strong, and let Thy strength be made per- 
fect in their weakness. Remember always that 
they are not very wise, and may Thy wisdom be 
their sufficiency/ 

"His voice ceased. But, ere we could rise 
from our knees, dear brother Guldbrandson fol- 
lowed in impassioned pleading, his whole heart 
overflowing in broken words, and forceful quaint 
expressions, carrying blessing with each sentence. 
And Hagquist followed, amid the fervently ex- 
pressed sympathy of all the rest. Touching, 
manly, brave, and tender prayers, all for Jesus 
stamped on each petition. 

"As we stood together then, a moment, brother 
Pilquist's voice was heard saying that he wished 
to try and express the feeling of all their hearts 
towards those from whom they are parting to- 
night, the love, the gratitude. They felt as they 
had done when leaving their old homes in Scan- 
dinavia, leaving their father's roof. And he 
turned to Mr. Taylor standing there and said, 'I 
have found a father here in China and a home!' 



16 

And many an earnest voice responded, 'Yes.' 
'Amen/ He thanked the Mission, on behalf of 
the Scandinavian churches in America, and on 
behalf of the whole party, — all the first Fifty, of 
whom nineteen will be left with us now. 

"When he had finished speaking, and Mr. Tay- 
lor's reply was done, before anything further 
could be said, they burst again into song, and the 
room rang, through and through, with their soul- 
filled music. It was very touching to watch their 
faces then. So bright, so moved, so purposeful! 
The whole band seemed to gather to the chorus 
of their special hymn — "It's best to go singing, 
singing all the way. 9 ' And to me they seemed, 
indeed, Heralds of Coming Footsteps! Thrust- 
forth laborers are these if ever there were any. 
The plentiful harvest is waiting. At the eleventh 
hour He sends in His last reapers, simple, earnest, 
loyal-hearted lovers of the Lord; sends them in 
to garner the precious sheaves, and join the Har- 
vest Home. 

"A little later, in the darkness, they gather 
to say good-bye. The lamplight falls on the group 
at the foot of the veranda steps, upon which the 
singers stand to lead their last united song of 
praise. 

"A solemn feeling of wonder is upon many 
hearts, what is this the Lord is doing in our 
midst? Heralds of Coming Footsteps! Ye go 
forth surely, in response to the midnight cry. Yes, 



17 

let it ring round China, and back again across 
the ocean foam, to the homelands sleeping far 
over the seas, 'Behold the Bridegroom cometh! 
We go to meet Him' !" 



I may be in place here to mention that the 
object of the Scandinavian Alliance Mission is to 
encourage Churches, Societies or individuals to 
send out and support Missionaries of the Gospel 
in different foreign fields. These Missionaries 
are in the first instance controlled by and account- 
able to those supporting them and are, conse- 
quently, to report of their work directly to their 
supporters. Thus each church or group of Chris- 
tians who support one or more missionaries prac- 
tically constitutes a small Mission Society in this 
Alliance. 

This arrangement has brought about an inti- 
mate relation between the supporters and their 
own missionary, and created greater interest 
for Mission work, than could have been accom- 
plished in any other way. 

Besides the work in China this Mission carries 
on work in Japan, Mongolia, India, Africa and 
South America. It also maintains a Scandinav- 
ian Sailor's Mission in Sidney, Australia. 



18 



EarlygExperiences in the Work, 

As has been stated, the China Inland Mission 
provided suitable accommodations at different 
places in the interior for all of us to study the 
language. A number of the brethren were sent to 
the station at Kuh-wu in the province of Shansi. 
The lady missionaries were all sent to Ta-ku-t'ang 
in the province of Kiangsi. Seven of us, under 
the guidance of Mr. Bagnall, were sent to study 
at Kiu-cheo-fu in the province of Chehkiang. 

After a period of about five months Mr. and 
Mrs. Bagnall went home, leaving the housekeep- 
ing affairs with me. A month later I began con- 
ducting meetings among the Chinese. Little by 
little, our party had to break up, some to one sta- 
tion and some to another. Finally I was alone 
at this place. A Chinese pastor had charge of the 
church, so, in company with my native helper, I 
was at liberty to do extensive itinerating work. 

At a place called Ta-cheo we had the joy of 
seeing some fruit of our efforts. There was a 
man who believed our message the first time he 
heard it preached. Soon he put forth much con- 
cern regarding the salvation of his fellow-men. 
Occasionally his old friends would beat him when 
he talked to them of the God he had now learned 
to know, still he did not become discouraged. He 



19 

sometimes prayed for the sick, and his petitions 
were answered. Through this he won several for 
the Lord. 

When a little group of four families had be- 
come Believers, there arose persecution. One of 
these families was assailed by five men who 
seized their property and maltreated them. When 
this became known to us, and having through 
prayer sought the guidance of the Lord, we came 
to the conclusion of reporting it to the mandarin. 
The culprits were soon taken to task for this, and 
were threatened to be put in prison. Then they 
became frightened, and to my native helper they 
brought their complaints, saying, "Now, see, in 
what a plight the foreigner has put us : we shall 
be put in prison, and as it is so near the New 
Year, our trial will not be heard before this, and 
what a calamity to be in prison during that great 
festival !" 

My helper then replied, "It is not the foreigner 
who is the cause of this, but you are to blame 
yourselves for transgressing the law. The for- 
eigner loves you and would intercede for you if 
you only would return the stolen property, and 
promise to mend your ways." 

Upon hearing this they wanted to hire a sedan 
chair, in which the native helper should proceed 
(in a respectable manner) to the Mission station 
in order to beseech me to intercede for them. In 
order to give a deeper impression of the Christian 



20 

spirit, my helper explained to them that he would 
not burden them with the expense of hiring a 
chair, but that he would go afoot; he told the 
mandarin's messengers that they might return. 
But they were opposed to this, saying they dared 
not return to their master without bringing with 
them the ones they were to fetch. Then he sug- 
gested that they should accompany him to the 
Mission station and linger there till mercy for the 
culprits could be obtained. This was done, and 
mercy took the place of justice. This did more 
towards opening this place for the Gospel than 
what several years' preaching could have accom- 
plished. Hitherto the children at this place had 
been afraid of me, as they believed that I would 
devour them! But now, whenever coming here, 
the children gathered about me and followed me 
back and forth on the streets. I asked them why 
they were not afraid of me now as they had been 
before. They replied, "We were formerly told 
that you would eat children, but now people say 
you are the kindest man there is!" Soon after 
this an outstation was opened here, and the work 
advanced steadily. 

A certain man who had smoked opium for 
thirty years once heard me state that one could 
break the opium habit by relying on God for 
strength to do it; he came to the station, believ- 
ing if he remained there a few days God would 
deliver him from this bondage. During the three 



21 

days he stayed there he did not feel compelled to 
use the drug in any form, nor did he take to 
using it after he got home. This man, however, 
did not come out as a follower of Christ. 

After Mr. and Mrs. Thompson returned to 
this station, I was requested to take up work at 
Kin-hua-fu, thus leaving the place where I had 
seen several embrace Christianity during my first 
years in China. 

At a later period, upon request by the China 
Inland Mission, I opened a station in the city of 
Lan-ki. At this place a fellow-worker, Mr. Wit- 
zell once took breakfast with me at the inn where 
I was staying. After this I went to a chapel to" 
preach. Mr. Witzell was to come later, but he did 
not appear. While preaching I realized a burning 
pain and was obliged abruptly to close the dis- 
course. The messenger that I sent to the inn re- 
turned with information that Mr. Witzell was in 
a similar state. It now seemed clear that there 
must have been poison in our food. I prayed the 
Lord to now deliver us according to His word: 
"If they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no 
wise hurt them." Satan, of course, was present 
to claim that prominent Bible students agree that 
this portion is not found in the most ancient man- 
uscripts of the New Testament. I resisted him 
by maintaining that it made no difference to me, 
as long as it was given a place in His Word, — 
that was the main thing. If God had allowed it 



22 

to be inserted, He surely was able to comply with 
it. I was immediately delivered from the danger, 
and was soon able to return to the inn. Prayer 
was offered for Brother Witzell, and he also re- 
covered. 

After procuring a house in this city, and hav- 
ing made other necessary arrangements, I fre- 
quently made tours to various places, hoping to 
gain a footing in a new district. During one of 
these journeys, together with another missionary, 
we happened to meet a Buddhist priest who had 
lost his forefingers. We learned to know that he 
had lost them in a peculiar way: he had used 
them as candles before the idols. By bandaging 
tallow around the fingers he had succeded in 
getting them to burn, while he, in worshiping 
attitude, kneeled before the image. 

On another tour I passed a. grotto where a man 
was sitting on a stone, meditating. He was "re- 
pairing his heart," as the Chinese say. They 
believe they can grow better by resorting to some 
lonely place, and there devote themselves to paci- 
fying meditations. 

In this connection I heard of others who, while 
thus "repairing their hearts," partock of less food 
day by day, till gradually they were famished 
with hunger. They believe in this way to gain 
eternal bliss and become deified in another world. 
What a craving for something better must they 
not realize in their hearts when they submit them- 



23 

selves to such extremes! What a strong appeal 
this is to us to bring them the Light! 

During these early years our brethren who 
had gone to the province of Shansi to study the 
language, had also carried on extensive itiner- 
ating work, reaching into the province of Shensi. 
They had also succeeded in opening some new sta- 
tions in this province. When the Director of the 
China Inland Mission, Dr. Hudson Taylor, heard 
of this, he undertook the long journey from 
Shanghai to this distant province to inspect their 
work. When he saw that the Lord had been with 
them and graciously guided their steps to open 
up centers for Mission work, he rejoiced over 
their progress, and made an agreement with them 
to remain there and make this their sphere of 
labor. 



Field of Work in China of the Scandinavian 
Alliance Mission of North America. 

When our director, Rev. F. Franson, came to 
China (1895) he held a conference with those of 
us who were in the central part of the country, 
where it was decided that we, together with our 
fellow-workers in North China, should take up 
our field of work on the Sian Plain in the province 
of Shensi, and also to work in the eastern part 
of the province of Kansu, 



25 

The Sian Plain is a very fertile region and 
densely populated. Cities and Villages are here 
numerous. The villages are generally surrounded 
by a wall of hard packed clay, containing gates 
which are closed at night, similar to those of the 
larger cities. It is estimated that Sianfu, the 
capital of the province, has a population of half 
a million. Long ago it was the capital city of the 
empire. About seven miles west of the city are 
to be seen the ruins of an ancient imperial palace ; 
and inside the city there is also an old palace. The 
surroundings contain many huge mounds which 
mark the graves of emperors and eminent states- 
men. There are also other antiquities which bear 
witness that in this part of the country has stood 
the cradle of the Chinese Empire. 

When the Manchus conquered China, more 
than 260 years ago, they placed a large garrison 
in this city. A fourth part of Sianfu has since 
then consisted of the Manchu quarter, which was 
separated from the rest of the city by a wall. 

It was to this city the Imperial Court fled for 
refuge when the allied troops entered Peking to 
rescue the foreign ministers, merchants and mis- 
sionaries who were there besieged during the 
Boxer trouble in 1900. 

In this region, so rich in memories of the past, 
Christian doctrine has been known through the 
Nestorians from the seventh to the fourteenth 
century. The ruing of the Nestorian temple lie 







The Nestorian Tablet. 



27 

less than a mile from the west suburb of Sianfu. 
Not many years ago the Nestorian tablet of 
world-wide fame (which was unearthed in 1625) 
stood there also, but has since then been moved 
into the city for safe keeping together with other 
relics. 

It is in this region the Scandinavian Alliance 
Mission of North America has its field of work. 
It was no easy matter for missionaries to gain 
a footing in these regions. Workers of the China 
Inland Mission had twice been driven out from 
Sianfu. One of their missionaries was driven out 
from one place to another on the Sian Plain, but 
he lingered about in that region several years 
without gaining a foothold anywhere. He fol- 
lowed literally the words of Christ: "But when 
they persecute you in this city, flee into the next." 
After some time he usually returned to the places 
from which he had been driven out, until at last 
he was able to open a station in Fengsiangfu lo- 
cated in the western part of the Sian Plain, about 
120 miles west of the city of Sianfu. 

One of the first of our missionaries who came 
to Sianfu has related how he, inside the city, was 
followed by a man who carried a sword and 
threatened to kill "the foreign devil", by which 
term the missionary was called. 

When Mr. Holmen succeeded in hiring a house 
to open a mission station in Sianfu, there gather- 
ed a mob to drive him away. He was aware that 



28 

they had come with evil intentions, but he went 
to meet them with his guitar in hand, bidding 
them welcome, and asked for permission to sing 
and play for them ; he also invited them to drink 
some tea. They became abased at his courage 
and friendliness, and after listening to the sing- 
ing a while they withdrew. They said, "This 
foreigner does us no harm ; let him alone." Some 
time later another mob gathered to drive him out, 
but this time their plan was frustrated by the 
occurrence of a heavy rain storm. After this day 
he dwelt among them unmolested. 

In Ch'ien-cheo, about 56 miles from Sianfu, 
serious trouble began to arise after the missionar- 
ies had secured a place there. Mr. Nordlund, who 
was alone there went to the mandarin to ask for 
protection in case of trouble; but the mandarin 
did not grant him admittance. On the contrary, 
he was attacked by the mandarin's employees. He 
managed to get away from them and hurried back 
to the mission station. They followed, throwing 
stones, so that, bleeding, he barely managed to 
close the gate at the station before they could 
plunge in upon him. When he realized that they 
would soon force their way in, he scaled the wall 
and came into the neighbor's yard where he found 
a hiding place, while the mob broke in and de- 
stroyed the mission station. The mandarin or- 
dered the city gates to be closed to hinder the 
foreigner from getting away without being 



29 

caught. Not being aware of this, our brother 
proceeded at dusk along some back street towards 
the east city gates. The gate tender opened the 
gate and let him escape. The trouble at this 
place was reported to the governor, and he ar- 
ranged for Mr. Nordlund and others of our mis- 
sionaries to be carried in mandarin chairs back to 
Ch'ien-cheo. He also gave order to the mandarin 
to rebuild the mission station and reconcile his 
breach against the missionaries. 

In the city of Pincheo a missionary, Mr. Mad- 
sen, had settled down. The mandarin at that 
place tried to hinder his work, and he got up a 
riot to drive him out. When Brother Franson 
came to Sianf u and heard of this, he prayed God 
that this mandarin might either be converted or 
else taken out of the way. Shortly after, the 
mandarin became ill and died. The new official 
favored Mission work and let the missionary stay 
in the city. 

At the city of Pingliang in the province of 
Kansu, the officials had forbidden the people to 
rent a house to the missionaries. The highest 
official (Tao-t'ai) had invited the other officials 
to his place for the purpose of planning how to 
hinder the missionaries from starting work in 
their city. The missionaries, therefore, went to 
see the governor of the province and obtained per- 
mission to settle in Pingliang. Furthermore, he 
issued an order to the mandarins at the place to 



30 

procure a house for the missionaries and let them 
stay there. Now, that they were obliged to obey 
this command, their next plot was to procure a 
house in which evil spirits raged, where they 
thought no person could dwell. It was at this 
time that I, together with others, came to this 
field from central China. After a conference 
which our director held with us at Sianf u, it fell 
to my lot to continue the journey with other 
brethren the long way to Pingliang, where we 
were to live in the mentioned house. The officials' 
calculation that the evil spirits would out-do us, 
failed completely. The house became habitable 
even for Chinese, so that after a few years when 
it was turned over to the owner, anybody could 
live there without being annoyed by evil spirits. 
Similar opposition from the officials was met 
with at most places, but the Mission has, nev- 
ertheless, gained footing and advanced steadily. 

The following incident shows something of 
the Lord's immediate help in the work : 

At the time Mission work was begun at a 
place called Meihsien, a certain vegetarian from 
this place started out for a distant cave among 
the mountains in order there to try to improve 
the condition of his restless heart. As he trav- 
eled along he heard a voice saying, "Turn about 
and go to Fuh-in-t'ang (the mission station) and 
you shall find what you seek." Feeling assured 
that a supernatural voice had spoken to him, he 



31 

turned about and went to the mission station, 
where he learned to know his Saviour, and became 
a witness for Jesus the rest of his life. 

At spring time in the year 1896 I took up tent 
mission together with two other brethren. We 
went about to various places on the field with a 
big tent in which we preached the Gospel. Thou- 
sands of people in this way were given oppor- 
tunity to hear the Glad Tidings. 



As the Mission work developed, it was found 
necessary, not only to scatter the Gospel seed, but 
also to shepherd those who had accepted the 
Truth. Therefore more stress was placed on sta- 
tion work. Missionaries have been stationed at 
twenty-two different places. A few of these have 
later either been given up or become outstations 
to larger centres. A number of the stations have 
several outstations connected with them, where 
Sunday services are regularly conducted. Some 
of the churches that have been founded have in 
recent years attained a membership of more than 
a hundred. The "Christian Herald" (an Amer- 
ican weekly) has supported a number of orphans 
in connection with this Mission. These have been 
cared for and educated at orphanages connected 
with various Mission stations. Besides this, the 
missionaries themselves have cared for and sup- 
ported, wholly or in part, a number of children 



32 

from poor homes. The Mission also maintains a 
Seminary at Sianfu, where not a few young men 
have received training as school teachers and 
evangelists. Thus, the natives, through whom the 
masses must be reached, are being led into Gospel 
work. 

Our Work in Sang-kia-chuang. 

Towards the latter 

part of the year 1896 

the Lord gave me a 

good helpmeet in the 

Mission work. I was 

then wedded to Miss 

Ida Lovisa Klint, who 

was a worker in the 

Scandinavian Alliance 

Mission. A few traits 

from her life should 

here be mentioned. She 

became converted in 

miss ida l. klint. the early years of her 

life. She joined the Salvation Army, and in the 

city of Stockholm took active part in the work 

done for saving souls. 

In 1888 she emigrated to America, the city of 
Brooklyn being her destination. At this place 
she also took part in the work of the Salvation 
Army, and it was her intention here to enter the 
cadet school with view of becoming an officer. 




33 

About this time the Rev. P. Franson began 
holding Bible courses for missionaries to foreign 
fields. She attended one of these courses and felt 
strongly called to go to China as a missionary. 
After finishing this course, she, as well as others, 
was sent out to work among the Scandinavian 
people. 

Mr. Fransons method of testing the ability 
of those who were to be sent out to foreign fields 
was quite practical. Those who in their travels 
succeeded in arousing souls from the lethargy of 
sin, and in other ways showed capability in the 
work, were chosen as missionaries. If, on ac- 
count of the short time for work of this kind, no 
proof of their ability could be obtained in this 
way, then a written endorsement from the church 
to which they belonged was accepted. This me- 
thod of testing is no doubt the reason why he, 
comparatively, made no great mistakes. 

At many of the places to which Miss Klint 
went, the Lord added His blessings, and souls 
were saved. Two of the churches she visited 
wrote to Mr. Franson that they were willing to 
support her as a missionary. One of these was a 
church in Christine, North Dakota, where there 
were some Christians who were opposed to wom- 
en's work in the spiritual sphere, but they soon 
changed their minds when they saw souls brought 
to Jesus through her plain testimony. At this 
place they requested, to be permitted to support 



34 

her; and they declined accepting any one else as 
their representative in China. Since then they 
faithfully supported her, and often sent her extra 
gifts. 

When those who had been sent out had finished 
the period of work appointed, and had gathered 
at Omaha according to specified time, she was 
accepted as a missionary. The result of the doc- 
tor's health examination was not altogether fa- 
vorable. He would not sanction sending her to 
China, and yet he would not dissuade her from 
going. She had to decide the matter herself be- 
fore God. This was not an easy thing. Finally 
she decided for China, because she realized that 
the Lord had called her to this field. During her 
first years in China she worked in the province of 
Kiangsi. 

At one time she and a few others were near to 
being killed by an outrageous mob. They were, 
however, rescued, though in different ways. Miss 
Klint found herself amidst the crowd in the street 
and couldn't get away. Some Chinese women 
then suddenly opened a door and pulled her in- 
side to get her away from the bloodthirsty mob. 
The other missionaries had run away, but were 
afterwards, by friendly Chinese, conducted into 
the house where Miss Klint was, where the mob 
could not find them. 

She was sent to another field when Mr. Fran- 
son came to China. She went to Ch'ien-cheo in 



35 

the province of Shensi, where she worked nearly 
two years. On Christmas Eve 1896 our wedding 
was held. It then became our lot to go to the 
station at Sang-kia-chuang (Shensi). 

A certain Chinese evangelist, whom the mis- 
sionary ladies at that station had employed, was, 
upon request from the China Inland Mission's 
superintendent in that province, discharged be- 
cause of wrong doing of which the superintendent 
had found him guilty. He thought I was the 
cause of his dismissal and his friends at this place 
became opposed to me. The first year, because of 
their mistrust, I met with hinderance in whatever 
I undertook in the line of missionary work, so 
that some of the branches of the work became 
entirely frustrated, specially so in regard to school 
work and opium refuge work. 

The means which I received for support were 
insufficient. I began therefore to wonder whether 
God found me useless for His work; I turned to 
Him in prayer to get light in this matter. If He 
could not use me, I would not continue. Would 
He, on the other hand, make use of me, I prayed 
that He would show it to me by sending me more 
means with which to carry on the work. Some 
time after this, I received a letter from a friend 
who wrote in this way: "You may sometimes 
think that God has no use for you in China, but 
we feel assured that you should continue to work 
there. One among the friends here bought hard- 



36 

ware from a firm that, for cash sales, gave tickets 
for drawing lots on a bicycle. He prayed to God 
and promised that if he won the bicycle, he would 
sell it and send the money to you. He won it and 
herewith we send you the money." 

As I had not written to my friends concerning 
the needs and distress into which I had come, I 
could so much easier take both the letter and the 
money as an answer to my prayer. After this, 
the resources steadily increased, so that when 
later it became necessary for us to go home, we 
had sufficient means for the journey, and did 
not need to make any request for this purpose. 

Blessing in the work was not missing, either. 
There were many who attempted suicide by tak- 
ing opium. I succeeded in rescuing them from 
death, and thereby gained the peoples' confidence. 
The meetings became well attended. School work 
and opium refuge work could be resumed. Quite 
a number signed their names as inquirers, and 
two were baptized. On account of sickness, we 
were, finally, by the committee on the field, ad- 
vised to take a furlough. With tears in their eyes 
our friends in Sang-kia-chuang accompanied us 
on our way when w T e left. 

Arriving at Shanghai after the long and tire- 
some journey from Sianfu, we were so fatigued 
that it was feared we should not be able to endure 
the voyage across the Pacific. After staying some 
time in Shanghai, however, we regained strength 



37 

considerably. Our home voyage took place on 
board a Japanese steamer, Hongkong Maru, which 
was about to make its first trip across the Paci- 
fic. It was a stormy voyage. The passengers, as 
well as the part ol the crew who were not yet 
accustomed to the mighty waves of the Pacific 
Ocean, became seasick. Even the doctor was for 
several days unable to keep his head raised. 

A still greater danger threatened in this that 
fire broke out in one of the coal rooms. During 
two whole days the steamer was in danger of 
becoming food for the flames. By means of a 
powerful stream of steam, the fire w T as confined 
to this room while haste was made to use up what 
coal was not consumed by this fire. 

At Honolulu, on the Hawaiian Islands, we 
were permitted to remain a day. A milder cli- 
mate than that of these islands is doubtless not to 
be found anywhere on earth. The year round, the 
climate is neither too cold nor too warm. Large 
blooming trees here spread their fragrant scent 
at all seasons. 



During Our Sojourn in the Homelands. 

Early in the spring of 1899 we came back to 
America. It was indeed a pleasure to again meet 
with parents, brothers, sisters and a host of 
friends. They showed us many favors. 



38 

In the month of August same year we went to 
Sweden, because my wife wished to see her aged 
father, who resided in Stockholm. After visiting 
him, we went out into the country region, where 
we had our home during the winter. Meantime, 
I traveled in the interest of the Mission; at first 
in company witn Mr. Franson, and later alone. 
The Swedish branch of the Scandinavian Alli- 
ance Mission had been launched by Mr. Franson 
some time ago. The aim in these travels was to 
arouse interest for the Mission, and gather means 
to support missionaries and native helpers in con- 
nection with this branch. The undertaking was 
crowned with success. 

Towards spring we returned to Stockholm. My 
wife having been taken ill, we here consulted a 
physician. Hie discovered that she suffered with 
kidney trouble, and he advised taking her to the 
hospital, but she asked to be permitted to remain 
at home. I went to visit the well known man of 
faith, Boltzius. There we prayed for her, and 
when I returned she said that she had realized a 
change, and felt better. The doctor expected us 
to adhere to his instructions; but I believed that 
she was recovering, and I wished to obtain fur- 
ther proof that it was so. I could not request of 
him to again examine her, but there was a Chris- 
tian doctor who, considering that we were mis- 
sionaries, kindly examined her and pronounced 
her free from the mentioned disease. He advised 



M 



39 

me to request the former doctor to examine her 
again. This he did, and to his surprise found no 
trace of the disease. I then told him that Bolt- 
zius, together with us, had prayed God to take 
away the disease. He would not believe that the 
spirit had any power over nature, and therefore 
gave another explanation. He said, "As to one 
kind of this disease, proof of its existence can, 
on account of closure of the affected kidney, at 
certain times only be obtained." After some time 
the disease would again appear, he thought. But, 
to the glory of God, I can here testify that this 
disease did not trouble her again ; she was healed 
from it. 

After a needful rest at a certain summer 
resort, we returned to America. The Boxer 
Trouble going on in China hindered us from re- 
turning to that country. Therefore I accepted a 
position as pastor. 

We met another trial in this that my wife 
became quite ill with catarrh of the stomach. 
Those who saw her thought surely she would suc- 
cumb to this disease. We prayed to God about 
her recovery, but received no direct answer such 
as we did the former time ; yet in an indirect way 
the Lord answered our petitions. Through the 
skill of a physician she was this time healed; but 
it took quite a long time before she regained her 
strength. 

After five years' sojourn in the homelands we 




E. R. BECKMAN AND FAMILY 1904. 



41 

made ready to return to China. During a trip 
when we visited the friends who supported us in 
China, one of our girls took ill and died. This 
sorrow was hard for my wife to bear ; so we were 
obliged to remain at home another year, during 
which time I continued my pastoral work. 

Before we left America in March 1905 we 
had the joy of seeing several of our relatives and 
friends at Rosehill, Nebraska, yield themselves to 
the Lord. 

We crossed the Pacific by the steamer Em- 
press of India. This voyage was also quite stormy, 
but a rather fast one, so that in nineteen days we 
reached Shanghai from Vancouver, B. C. 

During our stay at home, the missionaries in 
China underwent a time of unusual trials. 

On account of serious complications, resulting 
from a long continued agitation by certain polit- 
ical parties (opposed to reform) the turmoil gen- 
erally known as the Boxer trouble swept over 
China. A great deal concerning this has been 
written, so it will not here be dwelt upon, save 
to mention how the missionaries on our field were 
delivered from a bloody death, in this time of 
peril. 

Rumors of the terrible slaughter of mission- 
aries in the neighboring province, Shansi, spread 
rapidly into this part of the country, and a threat- 
ening attitude towards the foreigners was as- 
sumed by the people. 



42 

Knowing that the governor, Tuan Fang, at 
Sianfu (the capital) had shown a friendly feeling 
towards foreigners, it was deemed advisable for 
them to accept his invitation to come to this city 
for protection. The command from the Empress 
Dowager to kill all the foreigners had been re- 
ceived by Taun Fang, as well as by the other 
Governors and officials, but he resolved to act 
contrary to it, saying, "I am going to protect the 
missionaries even at the risk of my own life." 
Having given this promise of protection, he ad- 
vised the missionaries to remain in Sianfu. But 
as he was realizing that the attitude against 
the foreigners was growing stronger among the 
people and other officials, he determined to send 
the missionaries to the coast. The Governor of 
Hupeh co-operated with him in this undertaking. 
As missionaries would be obliged to travel through 
a portion of the more hostile province of Honan, 
a military escort w T as provided to accompany them 
to the coast. Those of our missionaries residing 
in the province of Kansu traveled by another 
route, avoiding the province of Honan. Though 
the suspense was often overwhelming, they were 
finally delivered from the hands of their enemies, 
and safely reached the coast. 

Of the six of our workers in Mongolia, how- 
ever, five had to lay down their lives at the hands 
of the Boxers. 



43 

"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give 
thee the crown of life." 

During this time of turmoil in China, several 
of our missionaries who had been on the field 
about nine years, came to the homelands for fur- 
lough. The question regarding the education of 
the missionaries' children had been discussed to 
some extent, and it appeared to be a problem hard 
to solve. It was not advisable to leave them or 
send them home, as it seemed impossible that nec- 
essary arrangements for this could be obtained. 
To send them to some existing English school at 
the coast (of China) had too large an expense con- 
nected with it. While several of the missionaries 
now were home, this question was taken up in 
conference with the Board of Directors at Chi- 
cago (1901). The only solution to the problem 
seemed to be to start a preparatory school on the 
Mission field, and it was decided to take steps 
toward seeing it realized. 

For a while it seemed doubtful whether a 
teacher could be found who was willing, under 
same conditions as the other missionaries, to go 
to China to take up this work. This difficulty 
was soon removed by the Lord, who had, in no 
mistakable way, prepared a young man, Mr. E. 
M. Paulson (at Barron, Wis.) to be willing to 
devote himself to a foreign field, even before he 
knew anything about our need in this regard. The 
Board of Directors learned to know of him 



44 

through one of the missionaries, Mr. Philip Nel- 
son, who had traveled in the vicinity where he 
lived. When they extended him a call to this 
work, he felt ready to accept it. He started for 
China in 1903, and began this school work as soon 
as he arrived at his destination. Beginning with 
eight pupils, the number, in course of time, in- 
creased to eighteen. In the latter years, however, 
there were not so many, as some of the pupils had 
left for the homelands with their parents. 

No one could have filled this place in the Mis- 
sion any better than Mr. Paulson did, which is 
shown best by the progress made by the pupils, 
in spite of the unfavorable environments in the 
interior of China. He faithfully taught this school 
for a period of seven years, until the next teacher 
was on his way to take up this work. 



Back to the Field, 



Having come back to China, it became our lot 
to take charge of the school for the missionaries' 
children. Many things of interest from that time 
could be mentioned, but this does not correspond 
to the aim of these pages. 

Personally, I had wished to enter into di- 
rect mission work more fully than what the cir- 
cumstances here permitted. When we left the 
school we helped in the mission work at Li-tsuen, 



45 

where the Palmberg brothers were stationed. At 
this time we all realized that there was great need 
of a more powerful movement among the Christ- 
ians. It is true there were many who had ac- 
cepted Christianity and had put aside the most 
offensive habits and vices of heathendom, but 
in life so much was lacking. It w T as with great 
anticipations we watched the revival tide that 
made its way into China from Korea and Man- 
churia. 

Our field had been promised a visit by some 
who had taken part in the revival meetings. They 
came in the spring of 1909, and these workers 
were Mr. A. Lutely and his native helper, Mr. 
Wang. A powerful revival took place among the 
Christians. The reality of sin became revealed 
to them. Formerly, a Chinese was seldom to be 
seen to weep over his sins, but now nearly all 
who attended wept and groaned exceedingly. It 
was indeed wonderful to behold. Confessions of 
sin, which severe torture could not have brought 
forth, were now openly spoken, regardless of who- 
ever heard it. "I cannot stand it to keep silent 
about my sins," was an often repeated expression. 
When beholding this awakening, one could easier 
imagine how it will appear before the judgement 
seat of the Holy God. How blessed, though, 
when sinners awaken while it is yet the day 
of Grace! Occasionally, one could see people 
fall to the ground, overburdened with sorrow 



46 

of sin, and after a time of inward battle, they 
would confess their sins. For anything they had 
procured dishonestly, restitution was made, and 
they were heard asking one another's forgiveness. 
Even after these evangelists had left the place, 
the revival kept spreading. 

As I had been requested to superintend the 
building of the school for the missionaries' child- 
ren, we moved to Sianfu about the time the revi- 





School for Missionaries' children seen from the wall 
of the South Suburb, Sianfu. 

val began. The school was erected outside the 
south suburb, as this was considered a more 
healthy place than inside the city wall. When 
Mr. and Mrs. Nordlund and their children went 
home to America, I took charge of the work at 
their station in Sianfu, together with the out 
stations connected therewith. Soon our commit- 
tee on the field asked us to take charge of the 
school for the missionaries' children. It became 



4? 

possible for us to do this by means of an arrange- 
ment in which one of the lady missionaries came 
to assume charge over the native schools con- 
nected with the station. 

On Sundays meetings were held at the head 
station and at five out stations. I succeeded also 
in opening a street chapel in the south suburb. 
Some time after I had rented this place for chapel, 
thieves broke in there and dug their way to a 




Starting" for a cart journey from the Mis* 
sion Station in the West Suburb, Sianfu. 

store in the same building. I was informed that 
thieves had come in from my chapel and had stolen 
goods from the merchant. This I immediately re- 
ported to the police, but he took the matter as cool 
as possible. From the chief of police, who was a 
Manchu, and a friend to me, I learned to know 
that this theft had taken place because of pre- 
judice against this merchant who had rented this 
room to me for a chapel. 



48 

I considered it necessary to report this to the 
mandarin. He called the chief of police, but I 
don't know what was said between the two. The 
result was that judgment was rendered against 
the police corporal to refund in money the value 
of the stolen goods. From this time I noticed a 
perverseness about this man. Some time later 
when a few articles had been stolen from us, and 
I reported it to him, he briefly explained that he 
took no concern of what happened outside the 
walls of the suburb. I did not then understand 
that he was a member of the Ko-lao-huei. This 
secret society cherished hatred towards for- 
eigners, and they had a great many members 
around there, of which we were not aware. 

Another secret society started a branch for 
Christians. Through my evangelists I learned to 
know that the aim of even this society was to 
overthrow the dynasty and establish a republic. 
In its outward form it appeared merely as a polit- 
ical party wanting to bring about, as soon as 
possible, a limited monarchy in the country. Since 
no foreigners were to be permitted to dwell in 
the country, it was said to be necessary for the 
Christians to join it, otherwise they could not 
exist. As I learned to know of this, I tried to 
convince our church members of the harm in 
joining such a society, and succeeded in dis- 
suading them from doing so. 




I 



._ . . 




50 



Forebodings of the Revolution. 

There appeared to be considerable unrest dur- 
ing these times. There was no little exasperation 
on account of the decree forbidding the growing 
of poppy, from which opium is made. At certain 
places crowds of people had gathered to fight 
against those who had been sent out by the gov- 
ernment to destroy fields of growing poppy. Sol- 
diers were ordered out against such gatherings, 
but they moved against them so slowly that the 
opium growers found ample time to garner their 
crop. 

When time for again planting poppy drew 
nigh, the Revolutionary party gave out procla- 
mations (with no signatures) encouraging the 
people to plant as much of the poison as they 
wished, advising them to take no heed of the gov- 
ernment's prohibition proclamation, promising 
that it would be seen to whether the government 
could do them any harm. For this reason the 
drug was cultivated in places where it had been 
entirely prohibited the year before. A great deal 
of dissaf sfaction was expressed on account of 
duty and taxes being constantly raised. The Rev- 
olutionary paity then proclaimed that this was 
so en account of the foreign loan which the gov- 
ernment had made, stating that the government 
had sold the country to the powers, so that it 



51 

might be divided as one divides a melon. Only 
the provinces of Shensi and Kansu could be still 
considered free. This anonymous proclamation 
was soon laid hold of by the government, but it 
had sown its seed of bitterness in the minds of 
the people, not only against the government, but 
also against foreigners. 

• Manchu sons were allowed a pension even from 
the time of their birth, and this had, during the 
whole Manchu reign (about 267 years) been a 
heavy burden for the Chinese. It now was one 
of the chief causes of the bitter hatred which the 
Chinese had, not only for the Manchu govern- 
ment, but against the whole race. The promises 
of the government that both races (Chinese and 
Manchus) should be treated alike, proved to be 
merely empty words. All profitable govern mrnt 
offices were given to Manchus, and such mai nge- 
ment could be endured no longer. 

The constant increase of military maneuvers, 
modern artillery, military academies, etc. were 
perhaps the chief reasons for the increase of du- 
ties and taxes, though one heard nothing about 
this neither before nor after the Revolution. The 
revolutionists understood the value of keeping 
silent on this point. It was chiefly at the mil- 
itary academies and among the army officers that 
the members of the Revolutionary party were to 
be found. The majority of the soldiers were also 
members of the Ko-lao-huei. 



52 

We heard of all these causes of dissatisfaction 
and understood that these matters would spur 
the Chinese to make an attempt to get rid of the 
oppression, but we could not understand that the 
time for such an attempt was so near. We did 
not pay much attention to what we heard re- 
garding Revolution, for we were accustomed to 
the slow manner in which the Chinese took things 
concerning politics. I had, however, long had a 
feeling that China was threatened by some severe 
disaster such as pestilence, famine or revolution, 
and I spoke of it occasionally. I remember how 
Brother Vatne showed anxiety when I talked 
about this, and our daughter Selma almost began 
weeping and said, "Let us go home." It felt 
painful to see my child's anxiety, and since my 
suspicion was realized in such a heartrending 
fulfillment it has pained me all the more. But 
in general we did not feel any special anxiety 
concerning our own lives; for as missionaries 
we had consecrated ourselves to live or to die in 
the Lord's service. 

In the beginning of the year 1911 I had ex- 
panded the work by opening four schools at the 
out-stations. No aid had been received for this 
new work, so we had to use what could be spared 
from our own support. One of the missionary 
ladies, Miss Lindvall, rendered some help in this 
work. Two of these schools closed before or 
during the Revolution. The other two I have 



53 

managed to maintain despite the losses I sus- 
tained and the suffering I endured during the 
Revolution. 

Some of the larger meetings that we held 
during the latter years became revival meetings. 
The revival occurred chiefly among the Chris- 
tians, the enquirers and the school children. It 
very seldom touched those who had not for some 
time been under the influence of the Gospel. 
Among the Christians were some who did not 
heed the Lord's admonition to walk in the light. 
For them these meetings were unendurable, so 
they withdrew. It was a time of cleansing ; 
consequently, no large numbers were added unto 
us. We baptized only 28 persons during the 
latter two years. 

In October 1911 we had another visit by Mr. 
Lutley and Mr. Wang. This time they held 
meetings simultaneously at our Mission in the 
West suburb and at the English Baptist Mission 
in the East suburb. From other mission stations 
came several missionaries and a number of Chris- 
tians to our meetings which lasted from the 7th 
to the 15 of October. Also this time we had the 
joy of seeing a good many awakened to new life. 
Mr. Lutley 's sermons dwelt upon how the Spirit 
makes itself manifest, and upon the conditions 
in which the Spirit is received more fully. He 
spoke of the Spiritual gifts as they are described 
by St. Paul in first Corinthians, twelfth to four- 



54 

teenth chapters. All these gifts are available for 
God's people as well in our times as in the days 
of the Apostle. But no gift that appears is in 
itself evidence that the Spirit of God has brought 
it forth, unless the fruits of the Spirit also ap- 
pear. More powerful meetings than these I had 
never before attended. Such manifestation of 
the Spirit as speaking in tongues also occurred. 
On Thursday evening during the series of 
meetings, a message in the nature of a prophecy 
was given one of the young evangelists, saying: 
'There are many evil men in this city, and some- 
thing terrible will happen: pray, therefore, 
earnestly to the Lord/' The Spirit of God this 
evening wrought a deep work among school 
children and students at the seminary. Also 
upon the hearts of the missionaries' own children 
the Spirit worked mightily, and some of them 
confessed their sins. 



The Revolutionary Outbreak. 

On Sunday, the 15th of October, we received 
a telegram from Hankow, giving information 
that the three cities of Wuchang, Hanyang and 
Hankow had fallen in the hands of the Revolu- 
tionists, but stating further that the Revolution- 
ists promised to protect the foreigners in China, 



55 

Traveling was considered dangerous, so we were 
advised to remain where we were. By means of 
this information we knew for a certainty that a 
Revolution was at hand. 

The Revolutionary leaders consisted of men 
who had been educated abroad. They had their 
representatives in all parts of China, and they 
worked together in harmony. Their plans were 
well laid. They had not aimed to begin the 
Revolution so soon. Through the occurrence of 
an explosion in the Russian settlement at Han- 
kow, w T here bombs etc. were manufactured for 
the Revolutionists, it became known what was 
being done. One of the headmen was arrested 
and taken to court. He became impatient with 
the many questions put to him, and said, "You 
Manchu officials are not qualified to ask me any 
questions." When this man was executed, and 
it was the intention that several others should 
share the same fate, the storm broke lose at once. 
The viceroy had to flee, and almost without re- 
sistance the three neighboring cities of Hankow, 
Hanyang and Wuchang fell to the control of the 
Revolutionists. The report of this spread rapidly 
into the different provinces, of which the ma- 
jority stood ready to follow the example. 

We heard that a meeting of a riotous nature 
had been held in our city. The clamor was that 
the new governor had mortgaged the oil wells of 
the province for a foreign loan, and the populace 



56 



had determined to cut him to pieces when he 
would arrive at Sianfu. 

I felt restless and questioned the advisability 
of continuing the 
school work, but as 
none of the others 
paid much atten- 
tion to it I also 
tried to feel calm. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ahl- 
strand staid with 
us a few days be- 
fore they returned 
to their station. 
These were the last 
days they spent to- 
gether with their 
only child, George. 

Mr. P. Nelson and 
family had recently 
arrived from their 
station to Pincheo. 
They were on the 
home journey to 
America, but found 
it rieccessary to stay 
a while in Sianfu 
to watch the development of circumstances. Mean- 
time, their only daughter, Hilda, followed us home 
from our usual Saturday afternoon prayer meet- 




MR. 



AND MRS. AHLSTRAND AND 
THEIR SON GEORGE. 



57 



ing. She wished to spend some time with her 

schoolmates. 

That which contributed most towards making 

us feel reassured was a proclamation from the 

Revolutionary 
leader at Wu- 
chang, promising 
protection to for- 
eigners, which 
w r as received by 
the Imperial Post 
Office, where it 
was translated, 
and a copy of it 
sent to each one 
of us. The Eng- 
lish Baptist mis- 
sionaries received 
a telegram from 
Hankow advising 
them not to leave, 
as it was more 
hilda xilsox. sa f e to remain. 

The outbreak in Sianfu had secretly been 
planned to take place on the 30th of October. 
Nearly the whole Chinese soldiery at this place 
stood ready to turn against the Manchu author- 
ities. As disturbances had already begun in the 




58 

provinces of Szechwan and Hupeh, orders were 
given for soldiers to be sent out to various places 
to guard the borders, so that no rebels might 
enter from places where trouble had begun. It 
became necessary to change the appointed time 
for the outbreak in Sianf u. Only a few days in 
advance, the time was fixed to the 22nd of Octo- 
ber. It was planned that towards evening of 
this day, just before the usual time of closing 
the city gates, the city should be stormed. This 
had likely in some way been brought to the 
knowledge of the Manchus, because on this day 
the city gates were ordered to be closed before 
noon. Consequently the outbreak took place this 
time of day. 

On this Sunday morning I went alone to the 
West suburb to conduct the services. On the way 
I met Mr. Gustafson and his little boy (who had 
a few days previous arrived from Kansu) and 
their intention was to come to our place for a 
visit, but I persuaded them to go with me to 
attend the services, and then come home with me 
in the evening and remain till the next day. In 
this way they were prevented from being exposed 
to the attack made upon the school; for when 
the outbreak took place they remained at the 
station in the West suburb. There was this day 
an eclipse of the sun, and previous to the meeting 
we made some comments upon this, knowing that 
such phenomena are by the Chinese considered 



59 

a portent of some serious event. Besides Mr. 
and Mrs. Christensen and Miss K. Anderson who 
were living at the Mission station, Mr. and Mrs. 
Bengtsson had come from the Seminary, and 
Miss Lindvall had come from her station in the 
city to attend the meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen, 
as well as Mr. Ph. Nelson and family, were at the 
place inside the city walls. 

The morning service had closed, and we were 
engaged in prayer during the Communion Service. 
Suddenly we heard a loud command, followed by 
the tramp of soldiers running towards the city. 
Mr. Gustafson called me outside to see what was 
going on. It was no mistake, — the Revolution 
had begun. I returned and continued the service 
undisturbed. We held no further services that 
day. 

I was warned by the missionaries and by a 
veterinary surgeon (a Christian) from the cav- 
alry camp not to venture out to go home. I then 
sent one of the evangelists to observe whether 
it seemed possible to return. He brought back 
a note from Mrs. Beckman, urging me to come 
home soon as possible. 

Without further delay this evangelist and I 
mounted our horses and started for home. On 
nearing the cavalry camp outside the West suburb, 
we saw armed soldiers on the surrounding wall. 
My companion was afraid, and began to return, 
but I asked him to follow me. One of the soldiers 



60 



who recognized me called me by name, and asked 
me to proceed. I then told them that my Chinese 
companion was my helper, and that he was riding 
my horse. I asked them to permit him to proceed 
with me. He was then told to come along. Upon 
nearing the 
camp some 
soldiers ap- 
proached 
and seized 

his horse, 

whereupon 
he dismount- 
ed, but held 
fast to the 
reins. They 

threatened 
to cut him 
down with 
the sword, 
and one of 
them called 
out, "Shoot 
him!" He 

then 
dropped the 

reins and retreated. I pleaded with them to let him 
keep the horse and follow me. The friendly soldier 
understood the situation and asked me to make 
haste to get away, but I could not leave my com- 
panion in this plight. Some soldiers came and 




MRS. IDA L. BECKMAN. 



61 

demanded my horse, rudely ordering me to dis- 
mount. I answered them politely, saying that if 
they needed my horse, I would let it go. This 
caused some of them to protest against the actions 
of their comrades, and in' order to add force to 
their arguments, those who knew me held forth 
what good I had done among the Chinese people. 
However they gave no heed to it, but led the two 
horses away. I stopped to speak to the friendly 
ones, and they invited me inside the camp. The 
officer was told of my presence, and he came 
riding up to inquire if I had encountered trouble. 
"Nothing serious," I replied, "only that the sol- 
diers have taken my horses." The officer ordered 
the horses to be fetched back, but the messenger 
returned saying they had already been taken into 
the city. The officer himself rode out to fetch 
them, and just as we were starting for home he 
returned and handed them over to us. 

Upon reaching home we found everything 
peaceful in the immediate neighborhood. Inside 
the city rose pillars of fire from official residences 
and tanks. The tumult of war could be distinctly 
heard. From the veranda of the second story 
of our house, the inmates had observed how a 
division of cavalry had attempted to enter the 
South gate, but finding it closed had been obliged 
to return. It had been planned that the attack 
should be made simultaneously from three sides: 
the cavalry to enter through the South gate, the 




o 



CD 



bo 



2 

B 

"3 

a 

CD 



63 

infantry through the West, and the train of 
artillery through the North gate. But as the 
North and South gates were already closed, two 
of the divfsions had to turn about and make their 
entrance where the others had got in. This 
tumult made the children feel depressed, but they 
were glad that they were not in the city. The 
South gate had been opened in the afternoon, and 
country folks returning from the city told of 
terrible murdering that had taken place there. 

I sent a letter* to the friends in the West 
suburb to inform them of our experience on the 
way home. Furthermore, I wrote letters to other 
stations, but could find no messenger to take them 
that day. I held a prayer meeting with the evan- 
gelists and other Chinese that evening, and felt 
refreshed in spirit, but they were excited and 
fearful of the worst. Mrs. Beckman also felt 
uneasy and apprehended impending danger. She 
suggested we should escape to some other place, 
and I agreed with the advisability of this, but 
asked, "Where should we go?" She replied, "To 
Ing-kia-uei or the mountains to the South." I 
reminded her of the unfriendly people we had 
there encountered in time of peace; so we aban- 
doned that idea. Upon my mentioning the West 
suburb station, located near the military camp, 
she feared the soldiers, saying it was they who 
rebelled, and so it was probably as safe to remain 
as to go. As I had realized that the soldiers were 



64 

not to be trusted, we concluded to remain. Fear- 
ing thieves might take advantage of the situation, 
we decided to keep watch through the night. Mr. 
Vatne kindly volunteered to keep watch with one 
of the evangelists during the first part of the 
night. I thankfully accepted this, as I felt very 
tired. 



The Attack. 



At midnight Mr. Vatne called us, telling that 
we were being surrounded by a mob. As I looked 
from the upstairs window, I saw how our gate- 
way was being fired with straw. This mob, I 
afterwards learned, was led by the afore men- 
tioned police corporal. It was said that two days 
prior to the outbreak he had ordered the village 
people, under penalty of death, to send a man 
from each family to exterminate the foreigners. 
He intended to destroy the Missions in the South, 
East and West suburbs. 

We made haste to get the children ready, and 
Mr. Vatne came to say we must hurry, or we 
should all be killed. We descended and made for 
the South wall of our compound. On the way 
there, we heard gun reports at the South-east 
corner, which indicated that we were surrounded. 
We had a ladder in the yard, intending to put 
this to the fourteen foot boundary wall and climb 




65 

over, but it had been used by the Chinese on our 
compound when they made their escape, and I 
could not discover where they had placed it. 
While Mrs. Beckman and Mr. Vatne returned to 
the house for something, I -found a wheelbarrow, 

a log and a rope 
to aid us in climb- 
ing the wall. I 
had just got these 
things in place 
when they re- 
turned. I first 
helped my eldest 
girl, Selma, up, 
while Mr. Vatne 
got up to help 
her get down on 
the other side. He 
remained on top 
to help others. I 
had just put Os- 
car Bergstrom up, 
and stooped down 
to take my sec- 

SELMA BECKMA: Qnd g}rl> when 

Selma was attacked and gave a scream. Mr. Vatne 
at once jumped down to help her, and Oscar jump- 
ed back inside the compound. I was lifting up Ruth 
when I heard two shots fired. For the moment 
I felt paralyzed with dread as to what had hap- 




66 

pened, and nearly dropped the girl, but realizing 
the necessity for immediate action, I lifted her 
to the top of the wall, and we called to Mr. Vatne, 
but received no reply. As Ruth started to cry, 
I had to take her back, not knowing whether Mr. 
Vatne and Selma were dead or alive. I dared 
not venture handing other children over the wall, 




The ruins of the outhouse in which we hid, showing- where we 

tried to dig 1 a hole in the wall. The graves are seen to the left. 

Mr. Long", leader of the rescue party, in the foreground. 

so the rest of us hid in a small shelter close at 
hand. Having a pickaxe, I began to dig a hole in 
the wall, but owing to the darkness and shortness 
of time I did not succeed, ere the mob had burnt 
down the gateway and burst in, smashing the 
glass windows and looting and firing the build- 
ings. Fearing that we should be detected, I had 



67 

to stop my work. I sat down and took our small- 
est girl in my arms. We began praying, and asked 
God to prevent the mob discovering where we 
were, if it was His will to deliver us. At the 
same time we committed ourselves into His hand, 
to live or to die. My wife took our youngest girl 
from me for a moment, pressed her to her bosom, 
and kissing her tenderly said, "I must say good- 
bye to you, my darling.'' After she handed her 
back to me, we continued praying, and the chil- 
dren gathered close to me, feeling comforted by 
prayer. After all the buildings were fired, a man 
entered the adjoining shelter, but finding no one, 
he went away. My wife remarked, "When they 
are through with all the rest, they will surely 
come here." I replied, "The Lord is able to 
protect us, let us put our trust in Him." Thinking 
of the fellow who had discovered nothing on the 
other side, and then gone away, I remarked, "If 
they should knock down the door, let us keep close 
to the sides, that, perchance, they may not see 
us." My wife answered, "If they break down 
the door, we must run." 

When the buildings were in flames the mob 
retreated outside, but left a few to hunt for us. 
Finally, there came one who knocked down the 
door where we were hiding, and Mrs. Beckman 
ran out, followed by the rest of us. We saw none 
of our pursuers as we ran past the blazing houses, 
but heard a man call out, "Now they run !" When 



68 



we reached the burnt gate, I was leading the way, 
but seeing a huge mob outside, bearing torches 
and weapons of every description, I hesitated a 
moment to look for some other way of escape. 
It appeared impossible to press through the ter- 
rible crowd. Mrs. 
Beckman and the 
children did not 
stop, so I under- 
stood they would 
try to force their 
way through, and 
then I exerted 
myself to get into 
the crowd at the 
same time they 
did. The hideous 
noise of yelling, 
and the blinding 
glare of the tor- 
ches made it im- 
possible to dis- 
cern what hap- 
pened to the 
ruth and thyra beckman. others. With my 
little girl, Thyra, in my arms I jumped over a ditch 
in order to get to the West side, and then I received 
a heavy blow on my shoulder. Had this struck my 
head, I surely should have fallen. Putting forth 
all my strength I ran towards the West, but was 




69 

hit several times on the legs by -my pursuers. 
I gained speed over them and got out of their 
reach. As I ran along I looked for a place of 
refuge on either side, for I realized I should soon 
drop with exhaustion, if a moment's rest could 
not be had. Having run about a third of a mile, 
I resorted to an old excavation pit, where trees 
were planted, and a pond had been formed by 
the heavy rainfalls. I jumped into the water, and 
noticing that it was darker near the high bank 
on the East side, I crept over there, where I could 
not be seen. My pursuers immediately came up 
to the place, one of them declaring he had seen 
me jump down there, but they could not detect me 
in the dark. They walked on the edge just above 
me, but could not see me. They cursed my ability 
to run. They talked of having hindered all the 
others from escaping, and when I heard this, I 
would rather have made haste to go back to them, 
if even to die with them ; but for my child's sake 
I remained quiet. 

They called to their comrades to hurry along 
with torches, but I felt too exhausted to move, 
and not knowing which way to turn, I sat still 
and thanked God for breathing space. As I sat 
there I pondered upon the advisability of ven- 
turing out into the water. I knew the water was 
not deep, but if I should be knocked down there, 
I would be drowned, and this mode of dying had 
always been a dread to me. Now they had come 



70 

with their torches. At the shout, "There he sits," a 
carrying pole was thrown which struck both me 
and the child. At once I arose and walked out 
into the water, for there was no other way of 
doing. Hard lumps of earth hailed about me, 
some striking my head. Soon I heard them 
asking one another, "Where did he go?" By this 
I understood that the light from their own torches 
blinded them, so I entertained hopes of being 
able to get away from them. When I reached 
the middle of the pond, I sat down in the water 
and leaned my head against a small tree, while 
trying to hold the child above the water. From 
this position I could follow all their movements 
and their conversation without being seen. Those 
who had gone to the North side declared that it 
was impossible for me to climb the high, steep 
bank there. I thought the Lord is able to help me 
climb that bank, and hoped they would leave that 
side unguarded. Big fires were lighted at the 
passages leading up on the East, South and West 
sides. At the South side one man came to the 
water's edge to seek for me, but another discour- 
aged him, saying the water was too deep ; but as 
he had a rifle, he would soon settle me if I were 
discovered. He fired into the dark, but missed me. 
I sat there for an hour or more until my arms 
were numb with exhaustion, and the little girl's 
legs dropped into the water, still she did not cry 
or make a noise. Soon the morning star appeared, 



71 

and a comet was also seen in the East. Then I 
heard remarks to the effect that it would soon 
be daylight, and then surely they would find me. 
This reminded me of the fact that there was no 
time to lose. I waded towards the North bank, 
but was evidently heard, as two men came around 
with torches. As they searched very closely, I 
had to seek shelter by another tree nearer the 
North embankment, and stay there until they had 
come round to their starting point. Once more 
I arose, allowing the water to trickle carefully 
off my clothes, lest the slightest noise might be- 
tray me. With great caution I waded towards 
the North bank and ascended a pile of earth that 
had slid down ; on top of this I discovered a heap 
of cabbage leaves, and when I stepped upon this 
I was able to place my little girl on top of the 
embankment. At this incident, fearing that she 
would be left alone, she began to cry for the 
first time during the night. I took her down 
immediately so that her crying would not make 
known where we were. I hunted for a better 
place, but could not find one. I sat down and 
again I prayed for deliverance. I returned to the 
heap again, and before lifting up the girl I told 
her not to cry, lest those ugly fellows come and 
hit us again ; if she would be quiet I should soon 
be with her again. She kept very still. I tried 
to scale the bank, but slipped and tore down some 
mud. Luckily, the noise was not noticed. I 



72 

thought upon how wonderfully the Lord had 
helped His servants in times past, and again I 
prayed Him help me now. I reached my arms 
to the top again and put my knee against the 
bank. This time I marvelously succeeded in get- 
ting up. I picked up my child and walked off 





Ruins of the main building-. 

toward the North, evidently unnoticed by my 
pursuers. 

Words cannot describe the feelings that 
penetrated my heart at the thought of the dread- 
ful happenings during this fateful night. Before 
me was seen the blaze of burning houses in the 
city, and there, too, was heard the awful tumult 



73 

of war, and the pitiful cry of people from all 
parts of the city. Behind me lay our own place 
a prey to the dying flames, and there lay my wife 
and little Ruth, as well as the other dear children, 
slain! How the hearts of the parents of these 
children would bleed, as well as mine, when they 
should learn to know what had happened, — the 
thought of this called forth deep pain. With the 
addition of the uncertainty concerning Mr. Vatne 
and Selma, I was nearly overcome. 

As soon as I reached the road leading west 
frcm the South suburb, I followed it, hoping to 
reach the cavalry camp where I had been the day 
before. On the way I met two men who were 
Revolutionists from the province of Hupeh. After 
a brief conversation with them I found out that 
the camp was empty, as all the soldiers were 
engaged in the strife going on in the city. I 
decided to go around the camp and reach the gate 
which I passed through the previous day. For- 
tunately this was open, and the watch on top of 
the wall were absorbed in conversation and did 
not notice me. Had I been seen and been unable 
to give the password, I should most likely have 
been shot. After advancing a few steps, I passed 
another guard. Here two dogs flew at me, but 
they fell into a fight with each other; and the 
guard, who were out of sight, took no concern; 
so even here I succeeded in passing. Soon I 
reached the back door of our station in the West 



74 

suburb. One of my evangelists had fled to this 
place when the mob gathered, so our friends here 
were in touch with the course of events. They 
were afraid the mob would also come here, so they 
were keeping watch. As soon as I rapped at the 
gateway and gave my name, I was admitted. 
This was about four o'clock in the morning. They 
inquired for the others and I could only reply, 
"As far as I know, this is all I have left." A flow 
of tears burst forth from those who were present, 
Chinese as well as missionaries. 

They provided us with a change of clothing, 
and Mr. Gustafson looked after the wounds I had 
sustained. One of the ladies kindly took charge 
of Thyra. A place to rest was provided for me, 
but I could not rest. X went out to the Brethren 
who were keeping watch. 

Hitherto I had been self-possessed and tran- 
quil, but now there came over me a reactionary 
feeling of remorse, which, together with dread 
of further terrible experiences, crushed me to 
despair. All possible ways of escape now came 
to my mind, but too late! Why had I not at- 
tempted this or that method by which I could 
probably have rescued them all? Oh, that I had 
taken them with me and fled the evening before, 
or had dug a hole in the wall instead of going 
to rest! Mr. Bengtsson tried to comfort me by 
saying that if we had got out, I surely would have 
accompanied the others toward the south, as they 



75 

were afraid of fleeing toward the west; then we 
all should have been killed. As it was I had, at 
least, saved one child. There was, indeed, some- 
thing in this to calm my painful distress, but as 
yet I entertained a faint hope that Mr. Vatne 
and Selma had been able to escape. If so, why 
could we not all have made our escape, if we had 
got over the wall ? 

During the forenoon little Thyra cried bit- 
terly. No words could comfort her, save when I 
prayed. As soon as I ceased praying she wept 
again. This continued until the afternoon. 

I continually called on the Lord, paying no 
attention to whoever came or went. I resigned 
myself wholly to the Will of God, to live or to die. 
Thus I regained peace and calmness of mind. 
I realized that much grace was needed to feel 
ready to lay down my life, yet more grace was 
needed to remain and live according to His will. 
Meantime, the friends had gathered round me 
where I sat with the child in my arms, and they 
continued praying. From this time my little girl 
felt appeased. 

Early in the morning of this day (Oct. 23) 
some of the students at the Seminary had been 
over to view the bodies of the murdered ones. No 
one ventured to tell me of it until the conclusion 
of the mentioned season of prayer. Upon hearing 
that they had been there, I called one of them 
and inquired as to what they had observed. He 



76 

told me that Mrs. Beckman was lying immediately 
outside the gate, clasping our girl Ruth with one 
arm, while on the other side Hulda Bergstrom 
had sought refuge. The other children had 
pressed through the gateway, but had not come 
far before they were slain. Hilda Nelson had run 
a short distance towards the south, seeking 
refuge among some graves. Oscar Bergstrom had 
reached half way to the place where I leaped into 
the water. George Ahlstrand had fallen in the 
road a short distance from the gate, and at his 
side lay his pet, the big dog, keeping watch. One 
of the boys had been shot. Judging by their 
appearance they must have had a quick death. 
There were also three Chinese who had been 
shot. Later information revealed that these were 
shot by one who aimed to shoot some of the 
children. 

During the day an unfriendly crowd of people 
gathered about our place, and some of them were 
daring enough to disarm one of the men who had 
been appointed to guard the place. Rumors 
reached us that a mob of several thousand would 
come to kill us and destroy the premises the fol- 
lowing night. The faculty of the military aca- 
demy then invited us to come to stay with them, 
where we remained four weeks. 

Early Monday morning the instigator of the 
riot rode to the East suburb to lead an attack on 
the English Baptist Mission, He could not get 



77 

through the gate, and there were soldiers on the 
wall who warned him that it had been prohibited 
to molest the foreigners. Other soldiers had 
sent word to the mission station that they 
would come and destroy it. As these mis- 
sionaries had learned to know what had hap- 
pened to us, they attempted to escape; but 
in so doing they were captured, and some of 
them illtreated. Mr. Smith got both arms broken, 
and Mrs. Smith was also severely hurt. Another 
party of them was robbed and driven to the city 
wall, in order to obtain instructions as to how 
they should be killed. The culprits were told 
it was forbidden to attack foreigners, so they were 
obliged to bring them back to their home. 

On the day before, Mr. Henne (the post- 
master) had been maltreated on the streets of the 
city. He was nearly killed, having received eleven 
gashes from a sword about his head. Some sol- 
diers had rescued him in the last moment. 

At Ing-kia-uei, about eighteen miles from 
Sianfu, Miss Mary Anderson was the only mis- 
sionary at this station. She managed to flee to 
the home of a friendly family. The inhabitants 
of this home fled to the mountains, but she re- 
mained hidden there two days and two nights, 
during which time she had neither food nor water. 
In the meantime her station was looted. The 
mob sought to kill her, but she was not discovered, 
although some of the mob came quite near to her. 
When it was proclaimed by the leaders in Sianfu 



78 

that the foreigners should be protected, an escort 
was sent to her rescue. 

On Tuesday we heard rumors to the effect that 
Mr. Vatne was bound to a tree fourteen miles 
south of the city. We pleaded with the instructors 
of the Academy to send out soldiers to investigate 
this matter. But they were not in a position to 
render help, as they had of their own accord put 
themselves about to help us, and they had no sol- 
diers at their disposal. The only thing they could 
do was to report it to the leaders inside the city 
wall. The written message had to be passed 
through a crevice in the gate. No reply was 
received to the first letter. Another letter was 
dispatched to which a reply came that soldiers 
had been sent. 

Next day (October 25) one of the Christians 
volunteered to go to find out whether Mr. Vatne 
and Selma were yet alive. Upon seeing him 
arrive and hearing his inquiries, knowing by that 
time that foreigners were to be protected, the 
people ran away. At last he pointed his rifle at 
a man and demanded information as to what had 
happened. In this way he learned to know they 
had taken shelter with a certain family early 
Monday morning (October 23). One of the mob 
from the South suburb had followed them at a 
distance, and knew where they went. A new 
mob gathered, demanding the refugees to be given 
up. Selma was recognized and she had said that 



79 

they intended going to the mountains not far 
away. As the people had heard that all foreigners 
in the city had been killed, they dared not let 
these alive. They constantly pelted them with 
broken bricks and hard lumps of earth. Mr. 
Vatne, holding Selma's hand, was occasionally 
knocked to the ground, but sprung to his feet 
again, still holding her fast. About noon they 
were separated. Mr. Vatne was killed first, and 
shortly after, darling Selma, my eldest child, 
breathed her last. They passed through severe 
suffering. Their pierced bodies were found buried 
in a field. 

No soldiers had been sent to seek for them, 
despite the promise to this effort. Possibly the 
authorities had gained knowledge of them being 
already murdered. 

The Martyrs and their ages : 

Mrs. Beckman 46 years. 

Mr. Vatne 21 

Hilda Nelson 15 

Selma Beckman 13 

Oscar Bergstrom 13 

Hulda Bergstrom 12 

George Ahlstrand 10 

Ruth Beckman 8 



80 



Mr. W. T. Vatne. 

Mr. W. T. Vatne was born of Norwegian 
parents in America. He was converted while 
young. Having good capacity for study, he fin- 
ished his school work in 
shorter time than usual. 
At the age of 18 he had 
taught school. 

When the traveling re- 
presentative of our Mis- 
sion made a visit to his 
home, and saw the pho- 
tograph of this young 
man, he said, "There is 
the man I've been look- 
ing for to take the place 
as teacher for the mis- 
mr. w. t. vatne. sionaries' children in 
China." The Lord had also prepared our young 
Brother's heart for this calling, so that without 
any doubts he could reply in the affirmative. 

He arrived en Chinese soil in September 1910 
and came to the school on the 11th of November 
same year. Under his guidance and instruction 
the scholars made good advancement, and the 
result of his work seemed highly promising at 
the time when it pleased the Lord, in the manner 
told, to take Home both him and his pupils. 




81 

His parents are located at Cooperstown, North 
Dakota, where they, together with his several 
sisters and a brother as well as number of rela- 
tives and friends, deeply mourn his untimely loss, 
while they await to see him in a better land. 




Mr. Vatne with the children on the play ground outside the 
School house. Oscar and Hulda Bergstrom are standing- 
together in centre of this picture. 

Some time after Mr. Vatne's parents had been 
informed of the sorrowful death which met their 
son in China, they received a letter which he had 
written to them shortly before the outbreak in 
Sianfu. He related that the Revolution was soon 



82 

at hand, and admonished his dear ones at home 
not to mourn over him if he should have to lay 
down his life. Even before leaving home he had 
felt prepared to offer his life for the work to which 
the Lord had called him. This shows that death 
did not come upon him as a surprise, but rather 
that he had taken it into solemn consideration. 
So his death was that of a self-sacrificing, heroic 
martyr. 

In a certain religious paper (Evangelisten) 
there appeared a letter telling about the outrages 
at Sianfu, in which the writer, Mr. E. M. Paulson, 
the predecessor of Mr. Vatne, tells of their meet- 
ing at Shanghai, etc. As a further tribute to the 
memory of the beloved young martyr, the fol- 
lowing extract from the mentioned letter is here 
inserted : 

"My dear friend, Wilhelm T. Vatne, had been 
in China a little over a year when this sorrowful 
tragedy took place. It seems so sad that he should 
be taken away from the Lord's vineyard so soon, 
in the blossoming age of 21 years; but the Lord's 
way is not our way: 'Call the laborers, and pay 
them their hire, beginning from the last unto the 
first. 9 

"I was at Shanghai when Mr. Vatne arrived 
there from America, and I had the pleasure of be- 
ing with him about a week. Then I entered upon 
the voyage to America, and he would soon con- 
tinue his journey into the interior to his destina- 



83 

tion, Sianfu. By his quiet conduct and sensible 
talk he always left a good impression. Before 
coming to China he had taught two terms of 
school with 
good success. 

He destin- 
guished him- 
self as a vi- 
olinist, and 
his elegant 
tenor voice 
was a source 
of inspira- 
tion in the 
song service. 

u Before we 
parted we 
knelt toge- 
ther in our 

room to 
pray. Bro- 
the V atn e 
prayed that 
he might be 
given grace 
to walk in E - M - paulson and w. t. vatne. 
the fear of the Lord, and that in a loving faithful 
tvay he might be useful in the school work that 
he ivas to take over. 




84 

"After he had begun his work, the mission- 
aries having children at school wrote that they 
coidd not be thankful enough to God for having 
sent them such a devoted teacher: God had sent 
the right man. 

"Those who have been bereaved of their dear 
ones have our deepest sympathy. Besides the loss 
that they sustain, the Mission has lost good work- 
ers, and we feel disappointed in the hopes we had 
of these children growing up to devote themselves 
to Gospel work among the Chinese people, whom 
they had learned to love. It became their lot to 
glorify God through a Martyr's death, and roe 
believe that though they are dead they yet 
speaketh. 'The righteous shall be had in everlast- 
ing remembrance. 1 

"It is with great emotion I read what Mr. 
Vatne's aged father wrote to me concerning the 
tragic death of his sen. He says, 'You can hardly 
believe how we feel these days. It was a hard 
stroke ivhen we heard that our beloved Wilhelm, 
has already been taken away from us. Hotv 
strange that his day of ivork should be so short! 
Oh, Wilhelm ivas a dear son to us! He is missed, 
by the whole neighborhood. In all this we do not 
sorrow as those who have no hope; we believe our 
dear one has gone to the Home of peace. What 
a day it must have been when so many from one 
place entered the gates of the City! I feel that 
I am iveak and iveary, and this heavy sorroiv is 



85 

tveighing me down, but sweeter will be the rest 
when I reach Home. It is not ahvays equally hard 
to bear, but to-day I feel very much down-hearted. 
I could have written this letter with my tears! 
Yet, the Lord had the greatest claim to him: He 
gave him to as, and He took him. Blessed be the 
name of the Lord!' " 



Our Stay at the Military Academy. 

When Mr. C. T. Wang, who was instructor in 
chemistry and physics at the military academy, 
learned to know from one of the Christians that 
the school for the foreign children had been 
destroyed, and so many murdered, he became 
greatly vexed. According to his own statement, 
it was not merely for our sakes he became vexed, 
but rather on account of patriotism for his own 
country and its people. If the missionaries are 
murdered, he thought, then the foreign powers 
will invade China. To the teachers and students 
who had not yet gone out into battle he made 
haste to point out the necessity of protecting us. 
His statements won their approval. 

He came to see us and gave us instructions as 
to how and where to flee in case of attack. Some 
of the Chinese who stayed with us, he placed as 
sentinels and furnished them weapons; he also 
gave order to the guard at the military academy 



86 



(opposite our place) to assist them if it should 
be necessary to do so.* 

When we were invited to make our dwelling 
place at the mentioned academy, some of the Chris- 
tians feared that the 
aim therein might be 
to slay us. The Chris- 
tians who went with 
us there were deter- 
mined to die with us. 
Their joy was great 
when they saw we 
were protected. 

The Chinese Chris- 
tians were permitted 
to visit us at this 
place, but only in case 
we knew them person- 
ally. It was encourag- 
ing to see them and 
hear how they fared; 
for they, too, had been severely threatened, 
and many of them had to flee from their homes. 
Several of them wrote to us, because it was not 
possible for all of them to come to see us as soon 
as they should have liked to come. The following 
is a translation of one of their letters, which 
shows their thoughts and feelings better than I 
could describe them: 




MR. C. T. WANG. 



87 

"From the Church members in Tsi-kuh, — 
Greeting. 

God, the heavenly Father, the beloved Son 
Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit's beloved and 
faithful servant, Pastor Beckman. Grace and 
Peace be unto you! 

"We have all heard of the unendurable suffer- 
ing that has befallen you, through which the Holy 
God called Home your helpmeet and two of your 
children. The hearts of us all mourn and weep 
over this parting, but, we hope that we all may 
meet in heaven to never, in all eternity, part any 
more. This is the great aim of our hope. There- 
fore, do not mourn; for the Lord will surely, with 
increased measure of grace and love, care for you, 
who have come here only for the reason that we 
Chinese may be saved: and you have been re- 
ivarded with all this! Before the face of the Lord 
we truly are ashamed of our fellow-creatures, and 
we wish from our hearts that our pastor would 
pray the Lord forgive our people their sins." 

This letter is signed by fourteen persons who 
belonged to the church. Several letters of this 
kind were received during this time. On the 
street there appeared speakers who in striking 
colors pictured the brutal and wrong doing in 
attacking and murdering innocent children in this 
way. These speakers were heathens, and were 
likely hired by the officials for this purpose, but 
I could not refrain from mentioning this, because 



88 

it shows some 'of the good traits of the Chinese 
people, and gives us the hope that this bloodshed 
will not be in vain. 

Occasionally it has been said to me, "Surely 
you don't intend to return to China ?" Should I, 
as a servant of the Lord, refrain from attempting 
to garner some of the harvest for eternity which 
this seed will bring? No, not till the Lord says 
that it is enough: go rest yourself now! 

During the first few days after this sad hap- 
pening, my little Thyra kept silent. When, finally, 
she began talking. she made known that she was 
aware of all that had happened. At last she 
asked where they were, those who were dead. 
Upon being told that they were with Jesus, she 
asked with keen interest, "Are they with our 
Jesus ?" My affirmative reply filled her heart 
with joy, and she added, "Then I may see them 
there !" Since this she has often spoken of them 
being with Jesus, and has rejoiced over the 
thought of again seeing them. When one sees 
and hears the straightforward faith of a child, 
he can clearly understand the reason why Jesus 
said to His disciples, "Unless ye turn, and become 
as children, " etc. It has not been so easy for me 
to become reconciled to this painful parting as it 
has for her. The feelings pertaining to the carnal 
mind now and then recur. It is only through 
looking at it from the standpoint of the Will of 
God, that the pain subsides. My fellow workers, 



89 

who shared this sacrifice with me, also found 
their only source of consolation in the Will of 
God. For not even a sparrow falls on the ground 
without His Will. 

I heard Mr. and Mrs. Nelson take comfort in 
the assurance that they would again see their 




Weeping- over the coffins which contained our clear ones. 

child. Mrs. Ahlstrand expressed herself in this 
way concerning the time she kneeled before God 
beside the coffin that contained the remains of her 
darling : 

"This moment, when the sharp reality would 
be so vivid to me, instead of being the most bitter 
moment of my life, became a moment when the 



90 

Lord drew very near to my soul. I could only 
thank our heavenly Father for the ten years in 
which we were permitted to have this precious 
loan to brighten our lives, and also give thanks 
that our darling was carried by the Good Shep- 
herd unto the Father's House." 

Mr. Bergstrom, when I wrote to him con- 
cerning the murder of his two children, replied 
in this manner : "When so many have been obliged 
to sacrifice the lives of their dear ones for the 
testimony of Jesus, shall we then not be willing 
to let go what He has seen well to take from our 
hand!" 

If we look at the more human side of this 
tragedy, then comes the question, "Why should 
it happen ?" 

However, let us take notice of an answer 
which I consider suitable to apply. It seemed 
clear to us that by the sacrifice of these our dear 
ones the others of us were rescued; because 
through their death the responsibility of the of- 
ficials were aroused, so that it was forbidden to 
molest foreigners. Otherwise, the trend was 
such,— specially among the Ko-lao-huei, to which 
the majority in Shensi belonged, — that, if these 
proclamations about protection for missionaries 
and native Christians had not appeared as early 
as they did, the greater part of them, if not all, 
would have been murdered. Later, when it was 
made known that the instigator of the attack had 



91 

been executed, then the courage of our foes sunk, 
and they withdrew. The effects of this stretched 
even into the province of Kansu. I received 
letters from missionaries there, saying they be- 
lieved the death of our beloved ones had been 
the means of their rescue. They, too, had been 
in great danger, but when the fate of the in- 
stigator at Sianfu was reported, the trend took 
a sudden change, and they were let alone . A 
member of the secret society Ko-lao-huei tried to 
take revenge on the General who had ordered the 
instigator to be executed. He entered the Gen- 
eral's dwelling place with a sword, intending to 
assassinate him, but the attempt failed. The 
mentioned society, which constituted the military 
power in Sianfu, were at first opposed to our 
protection, but slowly they changed their minds, 
and finally became anxious to protect us. 

Some of our neighbors, who were not Chris- 
tians, called on me at the military academy and 
related what they knew about the attack made 
against us. When I obtained knowledge as to 
whom it was who struck me when I fled with the 
child in my arms, I wrote to the General asking 
him to show this man mercy, saying, "Since God 
rescued me from his hands, I wish that, if pos- 
sible, he might be spared from death." It had 
been said that all who had taken part in the at- 
tack were to be captured and beheaded. But I 
was not able to intercede in behalf of those who 



92 

had killed my wife and the children and Mr. 
Vatne. Neither did it become necessary to do so, 
because the culprits hid themselves for a while, 
and after that the matter was not further ques- 
tioned. 

As none of us was permitted to go out, we 
made a request to the principal of the academy 
that the bodies of the murdered ones be placed 
in coffins. He did not wish to undertake this 
matter, but as he dared not let us go out, he 
promised to attend to it. The result was that the 
General commanded the people in the South 
suburb to do this, and they did it. At first some 
of the friendly neighbors had covered the corpses 
with straw and earth. 

On the 27th of October we were permitted, 
under escort by the principal of the military 
academy and twenty-five cadets, to go out to dress 
the bodies of the dead and provide better coffins. 
The missionaries, as well as the Chinese, strongly 
advised me not to go along, saying it was better 
for me to keep, as a last impression of my dear 
ones, their appearance while living, rather than 
to see them in an abused state. The brethren 
Bengtson and Gustafson superintended the fun- 
eral preparations of those murdered at the school, 
while the principal of the academy and one of 
the Christians took charge of the two who were 
murdered after fleeing some distance. The coffins 
were set aside in a temple just outside the South 
suburb until the funeral could be held. 



93 

The first Sunday that we were at the military 
academy we were permitted to hold a meeti-;~ 
with the Christians in the compartment which 
we occupied. The following Sundays we held 
services in the chapel at the Mission, while sol- 
diers kept guard outside. All my belongings were 
either stolen or burned, so for a while I had to 
live entirely on the mercy of others. After a few 
days, however, my horse was brought back to me. 
One of the officers had found it in the South 
suburb. Two calves were also returned to me, 
since those who had taken them dared not keep 
them for fear of being identified as partakers in 
the attack ; so the calves were turned to the fields. 
Besides this I received some flour, for which I had 
bargained and paid before the outbreak. Since 
the miller was under obligation to deliver flour 
to me, he was allowed to keep his grain ; otherwise 
it would have been saized by the authorities. This 
flour came well to place in the housekeeping, 
which was now managed by Mr. and Mrs. Chris- 
tensen. They had, indeed, no small amount of 
trouble, as it was very difficult to procure food 
stuffs, and the cooking had to be done at the 
Mission station by a servant, and then carried to 
the place we were. My wants, though, were all 
supplied. The missionaries and Mr. Henne (the 
postmaster) supplied me with garments to wear. 
From the General I received a Chinese gown, and 
at the military academy I got a soldier costume, 



94 

some silver, and other articles. Some time after 
leaving Sianfu, my horse was sold by the re- 
maining missionary, Mr. Jensen, who sent me 
the money it brought. 

Mr. C. T. Wang succeeded in persuading the 
General to send out soldiers to other Mission 
stations in the province, to bring the missionaries 
to Sianfu, where they might be protected. At 
one time I went with him to plead for the rescue 
of those at various stations in the province of 
Kansu. The General promised help in this regard, 
but as he could not immediately send a detach- 
ment, he proposed sending armies to conquer these 
various places. But this we wished to avoid: we 
wished to get them away before any battle took 
place. When the General explained that he had 
no soldiers to spare, Mr. Wang said to me, "Let 
us then sit down and wait." Later he presented 
to the General what the consequences would be if 
these missionaries also would be murdered. 
Finally, he won his aim in this that some soldiers 
were put at our disposal, and were sent away 
under leadership of a Christian, as was done in 
other similar cases. This escort was sent none 
too soon ; for matters had become so complicated 
that they were not allowed to cross the border 
into Kansu, so they sent word to the missionaries 
to make haste to come to the border, where they 
would await their arrival. The missionaries at 
Pingliang, Chen-iien, Chong-sin and King-cheo 



95 

were, by the mandarin at King-cheo, given an 
escort to the border, where the escort from Sianf u 
awaited them. 

Vast numbers of soldiers had already been 
mobilized to battle against the Shensi troops, but 
the missionaries got away before any battle took 
place. This party consisted of the following 
named persons: Dr. and Mrs. Laycock and child, 
Miss Wallenberg, Miss Lundvall, Miss Wedicson, 
Miss E. Peterson, Mrs. Gustafson and child, Mr. 
Gjelseth, Mr. and Mrs! Petersen and child. They 
arrived shortly before we started for the coast. 

Some time before this an escort has rescued 
Miss Mary Anderson, who had been in great 
danger at her station in Ing-kia-wei. Another 
detachment brought Mr. and Mrs. Ahlstrand to 
Sianfu. They had for many days been hiding in 
a cave outside the city of Ch'ien-cheo. Still an- 
other company went to assist the missionary 
ladies at Wu-kong, Misses Swanson and Baxter, 
ihat they might come to Sianfu. To Feng-siang, 
also, some soldiers were sent, under leadership 
of one of the Christians. These came too late to 
be of help, because the missionaries had managed 
to flee from the city before it was captured and 
plundered by a gang of robbers, several thousand 
strong. Mr. Plymeyer (of the C. & M. A.) also 
arrived in Sianfu from Kansu during these days. 

We were glad to get the missionaries together 
into one place for protection, although there was 



96 

reason to often question whether we really should 
be protected during these perilous times. We 
were all the time kept in strong suspense, for one 
danger followed closely upon another. One of 
the instructors, Mr. Yang, while intoxicated one 
evening, said to one of our evangelists that those 
who had gathered the missionaries to this place 
did so with aim to murder them all, in order to 
win fame thereby. It was the hope in the pro- 
tecting hand of God that gave us strength to 
endure. 



The Funeral. 

After receiving information from Mr. and 
Mrs. Bergstrom, that it was impossible for them 
to come to the funeral, but that they wished to 
have us perform this last service that could be 
rendered their children, then we undertook to 
bury the dead. The funeral took place on the 
10th of November. 

The General had planned on being present at 
the funeral, but had to go off to Tong-kuan, at 
the Yellow River, in order to negotiate with a 
band of robbers who had invaded that place. He 
was represented by the vice military Governor, 
accompanied by divisions of cavalry and infantry. 
The Department of Foreign Affairs was repre- 
sented by the English speaking member of that 



97 

department, who was followed by a large number 
of armed men clad in civil array. The chief of- 
ficers of the military academy, together with the 
instructors and cadets took part also in the pro- 
cession that proceeded from the West suburb to 
the school grounds in the South suburb, where 




Rev. O. Bengtson is performing- the funeral ceremony, only a few 
of those present are seen on this picture. 

we buried the dead ones. . The coffins had been 
removed from the nearby temple and placed at 
the graves before the people arrived. A profusion 
of flowers was lavished upon the coffins contain- 
ing the remains of the departed dear ones. The 
funeral service was conducted by Rev. 0. Bengt- 
son. In the first grave (from the east) rests Mrs. 



99 

Beckman with her two children, Selma and Ruth ; 
in the next, Oscar and Hulda Bergstrom; in the 
third, Hilma Nelson; in the last, Mr. Vatne and 
George Ahlstrand. 

The vice Governor held a speech after the 
close of the funeral ceremony. He expressed 
regret for what had happened, and for their un- 
ability to have prevented it. He promised pro- 
tection for those remaining, if their cause would 
gain the day. But it seemed yet uncertain 
whether the revolutionary cause really would meet 
with success. 



Confusing Conditions in General. 

Dense clouds gathered about the Revolutionary 
leaders. Civil strife between the military Gov- 
ernor and the Ko-lao-huei leader threatened to 
call forth fresh bloodshed any time. The con- 
tention between them was so serious that cannons 
were fired to add force to the threatenings. 

The viceroy, Shen-iiin, who had paid a ransom 
of half a million taels (about $350,000) for his 
life at the outbreak in Sianfu, was approaching 
from Kansu with his troops, who were chiefly 
Mohammedans. From the east approached the 
troops of Yuan-shi-kai, combating for the dynasty. 
Merchants and inhabitants of the city in general 
were vexed with the robbery and suffering they 



100 

had to endure. In regard to the distress might 
be mentioned that the massacre of Manchus in 
the city lasted five days. Even though they fell 
on their knees and begged for mercy, they were 
slain, excepting some of the women and children 
that were permitted to live, in case anyone took 
concern about them. Others roamed about till 
they died of hunger. 

Not reckoning those who jumped into wells 
or were buried alive in underground passages, 
there w T as, if their official statistics were reliable, 
a funeral expense for 21,000 corpses, many of 
these being Chinese. Even at the lowest estimate, 
15,000 Manchus lost their lives during these five 
days. The suffering of the people, in general, can 
better be understood when it is known that they 
could procure nothing to eat during this time. 
The poor suffered most on account of hunger, and 
the rich were robbed without mercy. The highest 
Chinese official in the city had to pay a million 
taels (about $700,000) to be permitted to live. 
The soldiers, according to their pleasure, took 
goods and money from the merchants, and they 
were afterward compelled by the authorities to 
carry on trade. Some merchants were beheaded 
because they refused to open their doors for trade. 
This description is limited to the city of Sianfu. 
Certain it is that this Revolution in China has not 
been a bloodless one, as some have tried to main- 
tain. It brought little or no satisfaction to the 



101 

merchants and city folks m general. It was said 
among the people in Sianfu, that if they only 
could procure weapons, they would attack the 
Revolutionary leaders and their soldiers. 

In order that the country people could defend 
themselves against the robber gangs that roamed 
about, it was proclaimed that they might, without 
trial, execute such beings. This seemed beneficial 
to a certain extent, because a great many robbers 
were done away with; but on the other hand it 
created a condition of anarchy. People having 
old feuds between them, took advantage of the 
situation to slay one another. 

Later there was created a system of guards 
called "Min tuan," whose duty it should be to 
maintain order. They squeezed money from the 
rich, and frequently killed them in order to get 
at their money. Their only excuse for this 
procedure was that the rich would not sacrifice 
their money to the general welfare. Bands 
of robbers in connection with the secret society 
seized for themselves enormous treasures, and 
often they plundered whole cities. Many rich 
became poor, and many poor became rich during 
this time, but it was not the needy and suffering 
ones who derived any benefit from it; for if any 
of them procured anything belonging to some- 
body else, they were soon considered illegal rob- 
bers, and were captured and beheaded. Once when 
we called on the military Governor General we 



102 

saw a great number of such people who had been 
chained together, and were led away to be ex- 
ecuted. 

The Revolutionary soldiers took horses wher- 
ever they could find them, sometimes paying a 
little for them, and sometimes not. On one occa- 
sion a few hundred soldiers were sent to guard 
the border between Shensi and Kansu, but they 
committed such base deeds among the people, that 
it could not be endured. Then the people obtained 
help from the Mohammedan troops in Kansu, and 
made an attack upon the Revolutionists by night, 
killing all of them, excepting about twenty who 
managed to make their escape. 

Our friend, Mr. C. T. Wang, remarked con- 
cerning this Revolution : "Che puh sh'i K'eh-ming ; 
che sh'i hai min" — "This is not a release from 
oppressive government, but an oppression upon 
the people." 

The guard at the military academy were but 
very few, and the students who were to constitute 
the defense of the place had, most of them, been 
called out to action to bring other cities under 
the sway of the republic. 

Great dissatisfaction arose far and wide 
against the military academy, as it was believed 
that this institution was the cause of the Revolu- 
tion and the suffering that followed in its wake. 
Mr. Bergstrom, who at this time remained at his 
station in Hsing-ping, heard a good deal about this 



103 

agitation, and he wrote to me, advising us to leave 
the academy as soon as possible/and return to our 
stations to be out of the danger, in case an attack 
would be made upon the place. The principal 
wanted us to remain, for at this time it was a 
current opinion among the people that no one 
dared molest us, for fear of foreign powers in- 
terfering in the affairs of China. 

In this way we constituted a protection to the 
place that had at first protected us, but how soon 
could not the tide of public opinion turn ! Under 
the dangers that threatened on all sides, we could 
soon have become the prey of an outrageous mob. 

Vast hordes of riffraff, partly armed, wan- 
dered about to rob and plunder. Night and day 
we were dressed and ready for flight. When I 
undressed my little girl, I wrapped up her cloth- 
ing in such a way that I could easily take them 
along, if it should become necessary to flee at 
night. 

One night when the West suburb was sur- 
rounded by a mob of about 1,500 men, the 
military officers of the academy furnished 
even us with arms so that we might take 
part in the defence. Under such circum- 
stances we could not depend much upon the 
promises of protection. Little by little we there- 
fore invoked permission to venture out on the 
journey toward the coast. An escort was promised 
us by the Governor General but the opposition 
against him from the Ko-lao-huei made him 



104 

powerless. All the soldiers had joined that secret 
society and they obeyed their leader who was 
gradually taking the power into his own hands. 

When we had appointed a day for our depar- 
ture, a Ko-lao-huei officer visited us who endeav- 
ored to persuade us to remain at Sianfu until an 
agreement could be made with the foreign powers. 
Our departure was evidently considered an omen 
of attack upon China by the foreign powers. When 
this officer heard that a number of the mission- 
aries would remain, he was satisfied if we only 
postponed our departure a few days. The fol- 
lowing night, however, I was awakened by a 
messenger, sent by the same officer, to bring us 
a letter telling us to be ready to start for the 
coast early next morning. This messenger had 
climbed the city wall by means of a rope, as the 
gates were not allowed to be opened in the night. 
The next morning we were informed that the 
Department of Foreign Affairs had sent a mes- 
senger, that same evening, to those of our mis- 
sionaries who were in the city, that we were to 
leave the following Sunday, December the third. 

On the day of our departure we also received 
the order from the Ko-lao-huei that we must wait 
another day because our escort was not ready, 
and from the Department of Foreign Affairs to 
leave at once because our escort was waiting for 
us outside the City. 



105 

We were granted permission to keep the weap- 
ons that had been given us till we reached Han- 
kow. This we regarded as a sign that our escort 
did not mean to attack us on the journey. We 
had previously been told, by our friends, that the 
escort would very likely kill us on the road. 

Those of our missionaries who remained at 
Sianfu were Mr. and Mrs. Ahlstrand, Mr. and 
Mrs. Jensen and child, Miss A. Swanson, Miss J. 
Wedickson, and Miss D. Lmdvall. 

Miss Mary Anderson returned to her station 
in Ing-kia-uei for a short stay, even though she 
had lost all she had there. Mr. and Mrs. Berg- 
strom with two children still remained at Hsing- 
ping some time. This place had been the most 
peaceable place on the Sian Plain. A man who 
was interested in Christianity had here been ap- 
pointed headman of the city. He frequently sought 
Mr. Bergstrom's advice. After the former man- 
darin had been deposed, even he came to get ad- 
vice from the missionary, and wished to be in- 
structed in the Christian doctrine. The people 
wished to have the missionary remain with them, 
but the threatening dangers from the outer 
sphere were so great that the missionary family 
considered it advisable to get away; so for this 
reason they left the place shortly after we had 
left Sianfu. When they reached Sianfu they 
stayed there some time. There were then ten of 
our workers and three of their children and the 



106 

Baptist missionaries remaining at that place till 
the rescue expedition under the leadership of 
Mr. Long from Peking arrived. Even then 
it seemed necessary to let a few remain, 
especially the doctors of the English Baptist Mis- 
sion, as the leaders of the Revolution by all means 
wished to have them stay on account of the great 
need of their skill. Their strength was taxed to 
the utmost in all the work that devolved upon 
them during the battles that followed. Telegraph- 
ic connections were broken. Between Sianfu and 
Long-chu-tsai the poles as well as the wire had 
been taken away. 

The postal service, which for a long time had 
been broken, was again started, but it was exceed- 
ingly unsatisfactory. Shortly before our depar- 
ture from Sianfu, we went to the post office, and 
found it in a chaotic condition. We found great 
heaps of letters and newspapers in many lan- 
guages from all parts of the globe. There was no 
one to sort the mail and to forward it to its des- 
tination. The postmaster, Mr. Henne, who was so 
badly wounded, had not been able to attend to his 
work for a long time. After improving in health, 
he had rendered aid and advice to the others who 
were at the office, but he was fully determined to 
leave Sianfu. A certain Englishman and an Eng- 
lish speaking Chinese had fled from the post 
office. Letters were torn to pieces. Sometimes 
the envelope was in one place and its contents in 
another. A good deal was found that belonged 



107 

to us, but we could not search through this vast 
quantity of torn mail. 

The postmaster and some Japanese in the city 
were anxious to go in company with us to the 
coast. Another certain foreigner, an agent for a 
cigarette firm, also wished to join our party. Such 
dealers coming to the regions where we work, 
create a menace to the Mission cause; therefore 
some of the missionaries questioned whether to 
include this agent in our company. It was not 
now a matter of work, but of rescue ; so some of 
us urged that he be allowed to come with us. His 
conduct was good. 

By prolonged negotiations we managed to loan 
silver from the Department of Foreign Affairs. 
The silver belonging to the missionaries was stolen 
when the city banks were looted and burned. 

Several things in the church work required 
my attention before leaving. Persons were ap- 
pointed to look after the work at the head station 
and the out stations. The chapel at the out sta- 
tion of Teo-fu had been destroyed, but, through 
the kindness of a friend among the Revolutionists, 
I managed to get it rebuilt. Some were baptized, 
and a wedding was also held before we left. 
Through the kind aid of the principal of the 
military academy the gateway at the ruined school 
was rebuilt, in order that the graves might be 
undisturbed. A watchman was also appointed to 
look after this place* 



108 

One of the church members at the out station 
of Kang-kia-tsai, being frightened at the rumors 
of threatenings against the Christians, burnt his 
Bible and hymn book, thinking in this way to pass 
as a non-Christian. In spite of the threatenings, 
none of the native Christians lost their lives, ex- 
cept just this one. He was strong and well when 
he burnt the books in the evening, but in the 
morning he was found dead in his bed. In my 
farewell speech to the Christians this singular 
happening gave occasion, in a special way, to 
exhort the Christians to be faithful to the Lord, 
This left a deep impression upon them all, as they 
saw herein a punishment from God upon one who 
denied Christ. 



The Journey to the Coast. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs decided 
our departure to take place Sunday, December 
third. Those of our party coming from the inner 
part of the city were to meet us at the south gate. 
The watch hindered them such a long time from 
getting through, that we only reached the East 
suburb that day, excepting a few who had gone 
out through the east gate together with the 
Japanese and proceeded to the intended destina- 
tion for the first day. The rest of us staid at the 
English Baptist Mission over night. Our escort 



109 

had followed those who went through the east 
gate; the others of us saw none of them till the 
next day. 

The leader of our escort was an elderly man, 
Mr. Ch'en, who had formerly been a servant to 
one of the missionaries. He was a man of low 
character, and proved to be the oldest Ko-lao-huei 
member in the northwest part of China. He 
flattered himself by saying he was viceroy of 
three provinces. He spoke of the leaders in Si- 
anfu as his younger brother. He was ambitious 
to "be somebody/ 5 and, as he acted like a lunatic, 
he was styled "Crazy Ch'en". Upon reaching 
Lan-tien the leading men of that city came to meet 
him and made obeisance to him. To his honor 
there were several hundred armed men stationed 
at either side of the road. A similar respect was 
shown him at the city of Shang-cheo. At this 
place the mandarin came to see us. He belonged 
to the Revolutionaries, and had therefore been 
allowed to keep his position. He gave us good 
advice, and sent word by us to Mr. Watsaas and 
family at Long-chii-tsai not to remain at that 
place but to accompany us to the coast. And this 
they did. 

At some of the stopping places Ch'en demand- 
ed that we should have lodging, fuel and other 
articles free of charge. If anyone then dared 
accept payment from us it would cost him his life, 
in some instances where we had already paid, the 



110 

money was refunded. To us he gave fruit and 
sweetmeats, while others he robbed of their costly 
fur garments and other valuable things, often 
threatening to kill them. At Long-chu-tsai we 
had to intercede in behalf of some travellers 
whom he had roboed and aimed to kill. 

At a certain place called Ye-tsuen, situated 
between Shang-cheo and Long-chli-tsai, our lives 




Our escort. 

were endangered. A vast number of people were 
here gathered to market, and on account of the 
dense crowds, it was very difficult for us to reach 
the inn where we were to stop. The people had 
determined to kill both us and our escort during 
the night. Soon after our arrival two hundred 
armed soldiers entered the place. They had come 
at Ch'en's command to join him in an attack on 
the city of King-tze-kwan in the province of 



Ill 

Honan. When our enemies saw this, they lost 
courage. 

Upon reaching Long-chii-tsai we had to remain 
there three days, while Ch'en gathered a large 
army in order to press his way into the province 
of Honan. Some of us had to make inscriptions 
in foreign writing upon some of the banners that 
were prepared for his campaign. Others had to 
take photographs of him and his army. Hfe bought 
horses which missionaries had brought with them, 
paying for some and promising to pay for others 
when he had looted King-tze-kwan. We pleaded 
with him not to attack this place till we had passed 
so that we should not be entangled in the strife 
between two conflicting armies : for we had heard 
that Imperial troops guarded the city he intended 
to plunder. He would not listen to this appeal. 
He ordered sheep and cattle to be seized and but- 
chered to prepare food for us. He commanded 
about a hundred men to escort us down the river 
by boats, requesting that we travel only twenty 
miles a day, so that he could arrive at King-tze- 
kwan equally soon going overland with his army. 

Seeing that Ch'en aimed to carry out his plans 
in regard to plundering, we turned to God in 
prayer that the plans of this wicked man might 
be crushed. In a peculiar way our prayers were 
answered. Ch'en had borrowed a pair of spec- 
tacles from one of the soldiers. When they came 
to Shang-nan-hsien this soldier asked to have his 



112 

spectacles returned, but Ch'en refused to do so. 
Then the soldier declared he would have either 
the spectacles or his head! The soldier enlisted 
the help of the whole infantry to try to accomplish 
the threatening. They found Ch'en protected by 
the cavalry division, who were not willing to give 
him up. Then the whole division of infantry 




Ch'en's Army, by which he intended to subdue 
and rob King-tse-kwan. 

abandoned the campaign, and returned to Long- 
chii-tsai. Ch'en, feeling now unable to carry on 
his raid against the Imperialists at King-tze- 
kwan, sent word to our escort to proceed no far- 
ther. 

These people had already killed eight men, as 
far as we had learned to know. They had seized 



113 

money and other valuables on pretense that it 
had to be used for our journey. We were truly 
thankful to God when we heard that they had 
received order to return. The leader finally grant- 
ed us permission to proceed without escort. The 
Japanese were also glad to continue the journey 
together with us. 

If I remember aright, we were 62 foreigners 
in our party, of which 18 were Japanese. Being 
now without escort, we were obliged to keep 
watch at night ourselves. A number of Chinese, 
too, preferred to keep company with us. 

Mr. Parker of the China Inland Mission, sta- 
tioned at King-tze-kwan, met us at the border of 
Honan. We had kept in touch with him, so that 
fte knew of our approach, and had kept the Im- 
perialists informed of the same. Mr. and Mrs. 
Parker came along with us when we left King- 
tze-kwan. Much space would be needed to de- 
scribe this journey in full. The mandarin at S'i- 
chuan-ting sent us presents, consisting of eat- 
ables; he also provided us an escort some dis- 
tance. 

We spent Christmas at Lao-ho-keo. Little 
Thyra and I were guests at Mr. Sama's over night. 
At this city the Ko-lao-hue authorities wanted us 
t o give up our weapons, but we would not do so, 
as there were robbers along the river where we 
were to pass. 

At Siang-yang two gunboats were sent to es- 



114 

cort us, but we saw no more than one of them, and 
this one hindered our progress a great deal. Far- 
ther down the river we obtained another gunboat, 
and then the former one returned ; although they 
had maintained that only one boat could not de- 
fend us against the hordes of robbers round about. 

Occasionally we heard of plots being made to 
attack us. However, something always ocurred 
to avert the danger. Even the hindrances we met 
with worked together for our good ; for we arrived 
at Hankow on the evening of the same day in 
which the last remnant of Imperial troops left the 
place in order to observe the armistice that had 
been agreed upon. Therefore without hindrance 
we could pass places which had recently been 
battle grounds. We were able to proceed even to 
the foreign settlements. Nearly the whole city of 
Hankow was levelled to the ground. The ghost- 
like ruins which remained were pierced with 
countless bullets. Only a few houses near the 
foreign settlements remained. 

In Hankow we were invited to call on the vice 
president of China, General Li Yuenhong. Mr. 
Mason and our friend from Sianfu, Mr. C. T. 
Wang, went with me to see him. The General 
received us with great courtesy and expressed 
regret for what had happened at Sianfu. He paid 
the traveling expenses for Mr. Wang and one of 
the Christians who had, by the Department of 
Foreign Affairs at Sianfu, been appointed to fol- 



115 



low us to the coast. Furthermore, he asked me to 
call on president Suen when we should reach 
Nanking, but this could not be realized, as the 

steamer stopped at that 
place only a few minutes, 
however, the president's 
secretary came aboard 
to present the President's 
sympathy and express 
his regret for the loss we 
had sustained in Sianfu. 
He asked information re- 
garding who had com- 
mitted the deed. This con- 
cern taken by the fore- 
most leader of the revolu- 
tion goes to show that 
the guilty parties would 
li tuen hong. undoubtedly be held ac- 

countable; and the leaders in Sianfu must have 
feared this when they reported that it was the 
Manchus who had attacked us when they fled 
from the city. In this way they also had hopes of 
making relations between the Manchu Govern- 
ment and the foreign Powers more complicated.- 
Our defender, Mr. C. T. Wang, sent the President 
a correct account of how it happened, which ac- 
count is given in full on some of the following 
pages. 

A comprehensive account of the outrages was 




116 

sent by me to the United States Consul-General 
at Hankow. In this I pointed out several proofs 
that the Revolutionary leaders in Sianfu were 
responsible for the raid 
against us, because they 
had neglected taking any 
measures to protect us, 
even though, as before 
mentioned, the highest 
authorities had issued a 
proclamation to the effect 
that foreign life and 
property should be pro- 
tected. Stress was laid 
upon the fact that noth- 
ing was done to disperse 
the mob after they had 
begun to gather about 
our place, and, further- 
more, after the crime was committed no assistance 
was offered us directly by the leaders. This docu- 
ment was concluded in these words : "I have given 
you as full and complete information as I can con- 
cerning my personal losses; but, considering my 
calling as a missionary and my consequent rela- 
tions to the people, I do not ask for any rec- 
ompense either for the property destroyed or be- 
cause of the loss of my wife and children. I pre- 
fer to leave this to my government and shall be 
perfectly satisfied with any settlement it may 




SUEN YAT SEN. 



117 

deem advisable to insure the safety of its citizens 
residing in China and the maintenance of friendly 
relations between the two countries." 



Foreigners Murdered and Illtreated in 
Other Parts of the Country. 

Sianfu was doubtless the bloodiest city in 
China during the Revolution. More foreigners 
were murdered there than at the other places com- 
bined. 

An Englishman, formerly a missionary, named 
Fellgate, was murdered on the mountain of Moh- 
kan-shan in the province of Chekiang. A German 
doctor was murdered in the province of Chihli, 
while attempting to rescue other foreigners who 
were in danger. At the same place a Roman 
Catholic priest was murdered. On the Yang-tze 
River three Americans were slain near Ichang, 
one of them being killed instantly, and the other 
two soon died from the wounds they had sus- 
tained. 

Mr. and Mrs. Blom, of the Swedish Mission in 
China, were assailed by robbers in the province 
of Honan, Mrs. Blom receiving serious wounds. 
In the province of Sze-chwan quite a number of 
missionaries were misused, but as far as I know 
none were murdered. A Roman Catholic school in 



118 

the neighborhood of Han-chong in Shensi was 
destroyed, and it was reported that forty for- 
eigners were here murdered. However, it was 
later made known that these forty were Chinese 
who had cut their hair short, and were therefore 
termed "foreigners." 

Several of our stations were assaulted. At 
Li-chuan the doorkeeper was shot and the station 
looted. In the vicinity of Sianfu a native Catholic 
priest was murdered some time after the chief 
troubles had ceased. When the foreign priest in 
Sianfu wanted to report this by telegram to his 
government's representative in Peking, he was 
hindered from so doing by the governor, who 
threatened to kill them all, if this was done. 

Shortly after China began negotiating for a 
loan from the world Powers, there sprung up at 
many places Boxer practicing, with aim of event- 
ually exterminating the foreigners in China. The 
Powers would grant no loan unless they could 
assume financial control of China, and this was 
probably the reason for these exercises that were 
held. Missionaries in certain parts of the country 
have stated that they have during this crisis ob- 
served a more bitter hatred for foreigners than 
they observed at these same places during the 
Boxer Trouble in 1900. 

Foreigners, as a rule, have escaped the awful 
devastation committed by the soldiers after the 
Revolutionary strife subsided, yet no safety can 



119 

be depended on anywhere. The suffering, which 
waxed great during the war and the subsequent 
robbery, has called forth among the people a real 
desire for Salvation. A vast harvest for the King- 
dom of God might be garnered in China in the 
near future, though not without great difficulties 
and danger. May the Lord grant His servants 
strength and endurance, and may the Church of 
God lift their hands in prayer for the heroes who 
are in the conflict! 



Sympathy Shown Me at Shanghai 
and Other Places. 

When we arrived at Shanghai we found nearly 
all the Mission Homes and other lodging places 
completely occupied. Many missionaries and 
strangers from all parts of the country had taken 
refuge at this place. 

During the first few days I staid part of the 
time at the China Inland Mission Home and partly 
at the Sailors' Home which belonged to our Mis- 
sion. Meantime an English family, Mac Gregor 
by name, had learned to know of the losses I had 
sustained, and they so kindly invited me with 
my little girl to stay with them free of charge. 
We were guests at their home during the two 
months I was obliged to remain at Shanghai. By 



120 

this noble trait of sympathy Mr. Mac Gregor 
proved that he spoke in earnest when he said, "It 
is more important to act as a Christian than to 
talk as a Christian." 

As soon as our arrival from Sianfu was by 
Mr. C. T. Wang made known to the Chinese Red 
Cross Society and to some merchants from Shensi 
as well as to the provisional Foreign Office, they 
combined to send us a deputation, saying they in- 
tended to give a banquet to our honor who had 
been exposed to such severe suffering and loss. 

Being aware that it is a Chinese custom to 
"make good" by means of a feast when they con- 
sider themselves unable to repair similar losses, 
I turned to the American Consul-General to ob- 
tain his advice regarding what standpoint I ought 
to assume in this matter. As he advised us, who 
had lost any of our dear ones, not to attend the 
entertainment, we refrained from doing so. The 
thought of partaking in banquet after such trage- 
dy was by all means disgusting. Information as 
to our decision did not reach the concerned parties 
until the preparations had been made and the invi- 
tations sent out; so the entertainment took place 
after all, attended by quite a number of mission- 
aries from the provinces of Shensi and Hupeh. 
At this time China's vice minister of Foreign 
Affairs, Wen Tsong-yao, held a sympathetic 
speech, stating that the murdered foreigners in 
Sianfu would by China always be considered 



121 

martyrs. But at the same time he tried to shift 
all responsibility from the shoulders of the Rev- 
olutionary leaders, placing all blame upon robbers 
and bandits. As this speech appeared in one of 
the daily papers of the city, I felt it my duty to 
make the following reply, in the same paper, as 
to who these really were that were called robbers 
and bandits : 

To the Editor of North-China' Daily News. 

Sir, — In an article of to-day's issue the enter- 
tainment given at Palace Hotel last night to ref- 
ugees from Shensi is dealt tvith; and there is 
quoted from a speech by Mr. Wen Tsung-yao, in 
which he says that the outrages had been com- 
mitted by robbers and bandits. 

As I did not see my way clear to be present at 
the entertainment, and having lost so much 
through the outrages he has spoken of, I wish 
to make known to the public who these were that 
are called robbers and bandits. Two days previous 
to the outbreak of the Revolution at Sianfu, the 
Police Corporal at the South suburb ordered the 
village people in that vicinity, on penalty of death, 
that each family should send a man for the pur- 
pose af exterminating the foreigners and to burn 
their houses. The object was not only to exter- 
minate us who were at the school for foreign 
children which was located outside the South 
suburb, but they intended to rid the East and 



122 

West suburbs from foreigners as well, and had 
fixed the time for each place to be destroyed. That 
this Police Corporal was in touch with the Rev- 
olutionaries is evident, or he could not have known 
beforehand when the Revolution should begin. 

It may also be in place to mention here that 
about eighty or ninety per cent of the Revolu- 
tionaries in Sianfu were members of the Ko-lao- 
huei, and that the General, who ordered the execu- 
tion of this Corporal, was later in danger of being 
assassinated. Furthermore two others who had 
taken special part in the attack upon us were re- 
warded with rank of officer in the Revolutionary 
army. It would have been an easy matter, to pro- 
tect all the foreigners if two or three soldiers had 
been stationed at each place where foreigners lived. 
Even after the burning of the school, no soldiers 
were appointed to protect us who were now in the 
West suburb. 

Had it not been for the kindness of the teach- 
ers of a Military Academy, who all had come from 
other provinces, we all should have shared the 
fate of those who had been murdered. .1 do not 
wish to blame the leaders of the Revolution un- 
necessarily, still I cannot keep silence when the 
truth is hidden away under the statement that 
the crimes were committed by robbers and ban- 
dits." I am, etc, 

E. R. Beckman. 
{Dated Shanghai, Jan, 20, 1912.) 



123 

A short time after this the ministers of For- 
eign Affairs, Wu Ting-fang and Wen Tsung-yao 
invited me to pay them a visit, which I did, ac- 
companied by Mr. Jenson and Mr. Wang. Serious 
complications in some matters had occurred at 
this time, so that Wu Ting-fang was hindered 
from meeting with us. The vice minister, Wen 
Tsung-yao, received us kindly. He merely ex- 
pressed his sympathy and conversed with us on 
the leading questions of the day. As to what the 
real intent of this invitation was, we never learn- 
ed to know. 

The many missionaries and Christian people 
in Shanghai show r ed me deep sympathy. At a 
certain meeting I was asked to relate how this sad 
event took place and how I managed to rescue my 
little girl, Thyra. The heartiest sympathy was 
extended to me by all who were present. 

It has been precious to me to realize a tender 
feeling of sympathy from friends to the Mission 
cause, which has found expression in prayers and 
in sympathetic letters from both known and un- 
known friends in different parts of the world. It 
is doubtless through the prayers of these many 
friends that I have, with unfailing courage, been 
able to bear this deep sorrow, though my feeling 
at times have wanted to claim their right of way. 
In my travels in Sweden it has many times been 
touching to realize with what tenderness and 
favor so many friends have treated me. Often 



124 

have I seen proof of the truth of these words, 
"And whether one member suffereth, all the mem- 
bers suffer with it." Nothing could be more in- 
tended to unite the members of Christ on earth 
than suffering. The brotherly love that people 
are prone to talk of gets its quality best tested 
when suffering takes place. From places where I 
least expected it, tender feeling of sympathy has 
been shown me, while on the other hand, where I 
expected to find it, it has sometimes been absent. 

Some time ago I received a very sympathetic 
letter from a little Catholic girl in Australia. 
When she had heard of the massacre of mission- 
aries at Sianfu, she at once sent five dollars to a 
Catholic priest to hold mass services for these 
"happy martyrs", as she expressed it. She be- 
lieved in prayers for the dead, according to the 
teachings of the Roman Catholic church. Disgust- 
ing as it may seem to us that people believe they 
can do any good for the dead with money, yet we 
must admire the little girl's sympathy, which 
found expression in this way. 

At one time I experienced something in con- 
trast to this, when being introduced to a prom- 
inent Christian person, who seemed to have a 
great deal to say about the love of God. When 
he was told who I was, he immediately turned his 
back after extending a cold-hearted hand shake. 

"Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my 
brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me" — 



125 

such wise will judgment once be spoken by the lips 
of Christ. 

China's vice minister of Foreign Affairs has 
sent me the following letter of condolence: 



Wai Chiao Pu, 



PEKING. 

Wai Chiao Pu, Peking, July 2nd, 1912. 
Rev. E. R. Beckman, 

20 N. Ashland Road, Chicago. 

Sir. — Having been made acquainted with the 
painful circumstances under which Mrs. Beckman 
and two of her children met their deaths and un- 
der which you ivere subjected to extreme suffer- 
ings, I feel I must write to express to you my sin- 
cere sympathy and condolence for the irreparable 
losses you have sustained. 

It is a matter of regret that protective meas- 
ures were not adequately adopted at the outset of 
the revolution in Sianfu, but no one, I imagine, 
ever foresaw that such an attack upon the Mission 
could have been perpetrated at the time. It tvas 
an event which no doubt was originated by an 
irresponsible mob and tvhich the whole nation as 
represented by the press and public men of China 
have mourned over and denounced and condemned 
in no mistakeable terms. The treatment which 



126 

you and yours have received at the hands of the 
ignorant mob has drawn not only public sym- 
pathy for you and your work but also the righ- 
teous indignation of all right thinking men of 
this country. 

In offering you my deep condolence, I also 
wish to express my appreciation of the services 
of those who, even under the throes of revolution, 
could have found time and courage to help to pro- 
tect the lives and property of Missionaries, and 
especially the services of Mr. Wang Chang-tsuen 
through whose efforts many lives have been saved. 
As a mark of appreciation of Mr. Wang's services 
a purse has been sent to him. 

In concluding may I hope that you are now en- 
joying good health and have throughly recovered 
from the severe shock you must have received, 
and that you will, in the very near future, be able 
to come out again to continue your work in the 
mission with which you are associated. 

Believe me, I am your obedient servant, 




Vice minister of Foreign Affairs. 

By this letter it will be clearly seen that this 
crime against us missionaries has struck the heart 
of many of the leading men in China. It has 
among them awakened more sympathy for Mis- 
sion work, and has brought them to recognize it 



127 

more generally than they otherwise would likely 
have done. Here the fact is again proved that the 
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, 
which bears more fruit than any other. We hope 
it may not stop only with a feeling of compassion, 
but may it be a means of leading many to know 
the power unto salvation which is found in the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It must be on account of insufficient informa- 
tion that the Vice-Minister surmises the massacre 
was committed by an irresponsible mob. He was 
probably not aware of the manner in which the 
Police Corporal gathered the mob, nor of the in- 
tention of the secret societies to exterminate the 
foreigners. Consequently, I consider his state- 
ment concerning the sorrow of the whole nation 
somewhat exaggerated. It might be possible, 
though, that the impressions from the leaders 
may have an influence for good upon the anti- 
Christian societies. It must be admitted that the 
Revolutionary party in China has not manifested 
such anti-Christian tendencies as has been shown 
by their adherents who advocate revolt in Euro- 
pean countries. A reason for this may be found 
in the fact that the oppressive government of 
China has never enlisted the aid of Christianity 
to maintain its power. 



128 



Mr. C. T. Wang's Account to the 
President. 

Statement to His Excellency The President of the 
United Provinces of China. 

Sir: — / have the honor to state that I am an 
instructor in Chemistry and Physics at the Mil- 
itary Academy at Sianfu Shensi. 

I have not taken part in the reform recently 
accomplished in that province, and obtained no 
information beforehand that it should come to 
pass. 

On the 1st day of the 9th Moon. the Reformers 
began their successful struggle in the City and 
the gates were shut. In the night following the 
police corporal at the South suburb, tvho by force 
haa gathered a mob, took advantage of the occa- 
sion, amd set fire to the school for foreign children, 
which was located outside that suburb. The teach- 
er Mr. Vatne and one child escaped over the wall 
out were followed 20 li by one of the mob. There, 
another mob gathered and they were murdered. 
When Mr. and Mrs. Beckman with 6 children tried 
to escape from the burning place, they had to run 
through the mob and all of them were killed ex- 
cept Mr. Beckman and his smallest child ivhich he 
carried in his arms. He was severely hurt by the 
pursuing mob, but succeeded in getting away and 



129 

after he had been sitting in a water pond an hour, 
escaped to the mission station in the West, suburb. 

The next morning a Christian, named Kiai- 

ping-kwei ( ), reported to me that the 

school for foreign children had been burned, and 
a number of foreigners killed at the South suburb 
and that the mob were gathering in the West 
suburb to destroy his house, the Mission Seminary 
and the Mission Station where a number of Mis- 
sionaries iv ere assembled. It ivas therefore a very 
dangerous moment and immediate relief tvas re- 
quired. I tvas greatly excited by this report and 
tvas of the opinion that it tvas necessary to pro- 
tect the foreigners. If all the Missionaries were 
murdered, it woidd be a hard question to settle. I 
was not able to protect them alone, so I explained 
the importance of this matter to some of the staff 
and students of m.y Academy and requested their 
assistance. 

We armed some of the Christians and appoint- 
ed them to guard the Mission Station that day. 
During the day the mob increased in number and 
courage. They took the rifle from one of the 
Christians and the rumor tvas spread that 2,000 
or more were coming in that night to destroy the 
Missionaries and their houses. We therefore in- 
vited the Missionaries to come to the Military 
Academy and brought them safely there. There 
were 11 foreigners and some Chinese orphans. 
The mob being still in great assembly I kept the 



130 

Missionaries to live at the Military Academy as 
that was the only place of safety. 

Soon after the news was reported to the Gen- 
eral of Shensi and he appointed an Official to call 
at the Academy and present his consolation to the 
Missionaries, h. e also ordered the execution of the 
Police Corporal, for this act he was nearly assas- 
sinated by a member of the Ko-lao-huei. Later 
some officials and soldiers were appointed to be 
present at the place where the Missionaries and 
children were murdered, to see that their bodies 
were properly put into coffins and buried. Those 
murdered were Mrs. Beckman and two children, 
Mr. Vatne and Hilda Nilson, Americans and 3 
Swedish children. 

I was again informed that Missionaries in 
many other places were in great danger, so I re- 
quested the General of Shensi to send soldiers to 
those places to rescue them. Thus 18 foreigners 
were brought from different places to the Military 
Academy. At Ingkiawei the Mission house had been 
looted and the lady Missionary had been hiding 
several days ivithout food. At Fengsiangfu the 
Mission house had been destroyed but the Mis- 
sionaries had escaped to Kansuh. At Kienyangh- 
sien the Mission house had been destroyed but 
there were no foreigners at that place. Miss Lind- 
v all's house in the city of Sianfu had also partly 
been looted. 

On the 13th day of the 10th moon the Mis- 



131 

sionaries started for Shanghai. The foreign affairs 
department of Shensi appointed me and Mr. Kiai- 
pingkwei to escort them. The idea ivas that as I 
had protected them from the beginning I should 
look after them to the end (of their journey). A 
head man of the Kolaohwei named Chen (gener- 
ally called Chen Feng-tsi ) with some of 

his men also escorted the foreigners to a place 
near the border of the province. He treated them 
well, but behaved violently towards others. He 
robbed some travelers and wanted to kill them 
so the Missionaries had to intercede for them, thus 
they were not killed but left in prison in Long- 
kiltsai. These travelers ivere Hupeh men tuho 
came from Sinkiang, where they had been teach- 
ers at some College. The Imperial official and 
soldiers in Honan protected us and showed much 
kindness. Likewise did the reformers in Hupeh. 
At Wuchang the Vice President of the Republic, 
General Li Yuen-hong kindly acknoiuledged our 
effort to protect the foreigners, and paid traveling 
expenses for me and Mr. Kiai. We delivered all 
our arms, 10 rifles- and some cartridges to him. At 
Kiukiang I made a brief report by wire to the 
Diplomatic Board of Nanking. At Nanking Mr. 
Ma, a secretary to His Excellency the President 
came to see us on board of the steamer. He ex- 
pressed the President' } s deepest sympathy to Mr. 
Beckman and others who had been so violently 
bereaved though the outrage at Sianfu. 



132 

Your Excellency will notice that all this trouble 

has come from the Ko4ao-huei ( ) who 

also robbed and destroyed other places in the prov- 
ince of Shensi. We have now safely arrived at 
Shanghai where the Missionaries are living in the 
Settlement, having lost all their money and had 
to leave behind nearly all their belongings they 
are still in a pitiful condition. 

Their traveling expenses from Sianfu to this 
place ivas lent to them by the Foreign Office at 
Sianfu. 

It is to my great convenience that my friends 
Mr. Yang Tsze Fei and Sing Wei Ching kindly 
rendered their assistance, who are experienced 
in foreign affairs and understand English. 

Trusting that your Excellency will take notice 
of the foregoing statement I have the honor to be 

Sir, Your obedient Servant, 

Wang Chang-Tsuen, (- ) . 



From Shanghai to Stockholm by the 
Siberian Route. 

On the 24th of March Thyra and I left Shang- 
hai in company with the missionaries Mr. and 
Mrs. Christensen and their children and Mr. and 
Mrs. Jones. At Dalney (Ta-lien-wan) Manchuria, 
we were obliged to remain a whole day; because 
the Japanese, wno control the communications 



133 

there, understand the art of deriving benefit from 
travelers by charging high prices for hotel ser- 
vice. 

Southern Manchuria is like a sandy desert. If 
I had not seen the vast amount of beans which 
was brought to Dalney to be exported, I should 
have thought this region barren. The northern 
part of Manchuria is more productive. The ap- 
pearance of the houses bore witness to the fact 
that the Russians were well represented. 

Upon reaching Chang-chuen we exchanged 
cars, for here begins the Russian control of the 
railway. At Kharbin, where we reached the main 
line leading to Vladivostock, we had to have our 
tickets changed and our baggage rechecked. Here 
we realized, to an extent that surpassed pleasure, 
how slow the Russian people are. We had to wait 
several hours to get transacted what could have 
been done in five minutes in America. Tips, how- 
ever, were not forgotten! 

Having hitherto journeyed in a north-easterly 
direction, the train now sped away toward the 
west. Only two hindrances occurred, — the one at 
the Siberian border where our baggage had to be 
examined by custom officers ; the other was caused 
by sparks of fire from the locomotive setting afire 
the wood that we carried along for fuel. Coal 
was not used here. In order to prevent the train 
from becoming a prey to the flames it was neces- 
sary to halt till the fire could be extinguished. 



134 

After circling around the southern shore of 
Baikal Lake we arrived at Irkutsk where we again 
changed cars. This change was not a pleasant 
one, as we now got such small room for our hand 
baggage. From here the journey took us through 
vast forests and over far-reaching steppes. Si- 
beria seemed to me a very interesting country. 
The newly built houses along the railway seemed 
homelike and comfortable. A considerable com- 
munity at various railway stations and some im- 
portant cities were to be seen here and there. On 
our way we met long trains containing prisoners 
and emigrants, which had a lamentable appear- 
ance. 

Upon entering European Russia, oil took the 
place of wood to furnish motive power. The speed 
was then increased considerably, over which we 
felt pleased ; for it was well to make haste through 
this dreary part of Russia. 

At Moscow our party had to separate, because 
the Christensen children were taken ill with meas- 
les, so their parents had to stop with them there. 
In order to secure a sleeping place on the train 
from here to St. Petersburg, I had to engage a 
messenger to stand waiting at the railway station 
during the day ; the fact that I had a sleeping car 
ticket would not guarantee that a berth would be 
reserved for me. This was on Good Friday, and 
the time would surely have seemed long if I had 
not had the pleasure of visiting with some of the 



135 

missionaries of the International Russian Mis- 
sion, where I met Mr. Swenson and also Mrs. Ver- 
bitsky (Mr. Verbitsky was not at home). Their 
friendliness and willingness to help me made the 
time pass very quickly. 

In the evening, having no more than gained a 
foothold on the car, the train sped away, and next 
morning we arrived at St. Petersburg. In the 
space of an hour I had to get out my baggage and 
have it transported through the city to the Fin- 
nish railway station. Being hampered by not 
knowing the language and by the slowness of the 
Russian people, this transportation was sooner 
said than done ! It was a relief when I finally got 
aboard the train headed for Abo. On the following 
night we boarded the steamer Bore to cross the 
Baltic Sea. 

It was Easter morning (April 7) when the 
steamer glided forward among the picturesque 
isles leading up to the place where "Queen of 
Malar" (capital of Sweden) towers beautiful and 
majestic, — the most charming among the cities 
on earth! How clean and alluring and magnifi- 
cent all objects here appear! Sweden is truly a 
picturesque country, adorned by a people who 
love order and cleanliness. But, pilgrim, do not 
let thyself be deluded : you are a stranger on earth 
on the way to a more beautiful city! 



136 



New Trials. 

After reaching Stockholm a new trial befell 
me in this that my darling Thyra became ill and 
had to be taken to a hospital, where she had to 
remain six weeks. Measles, croup, diphtheria and 
inflammation of both lungs were the maladies that 
threatened to put an end to her life. For several 
days she was able to breathe only through a tube. 
The doctor could not give me any hope of her 
recovery. But the Lord heard the many prayers 
that were offered in her behalf by many Christian 
people in this city and He bestowed upon her full 
vigor again, despite these serious maladies. 

My heart is filled with praise to the Lord for 
the grace He has thus shown me, and my soul 
longs in a more devoted manner to serve Him 
and fill my calling during the remaining days 
of my life, — much more so as I apprehend that the 
present dispensation of Grace draws to its close. 
I feel convinced that the Lord did not spare my 
life without a purpose, and my desire is that His 
purpose may be realized; for the prince of the 
world comes, and darkness presses forth. 

Shortly after I came to Stockholm a certain 
newspaper published something of my experience 
during the Revolution in China. Some- one who 
had read it found thereby an opportunity to send 
me a letter, in which he, under oaths and curses, 



137 

expresses his great satisfaction over the fact that 
may wife and children and the others were mur- 
dered in China. He but wishes that a similar 
late would be meted out to all the missionaries 
in that land, as he thought they had nothing there 
to do with their superstitious beliefs. Instead of 
his name he signed, "A hater of humbug/' 

This letter brought me to look about in various 
papers to see if I could detect from what source 
such crude writing could have come. Soon I found 
papers in which people exposed their crude in- 
fidelity and advocated abolishment of Christiani- 
ty. According to their theory Christianity is the 
greatest hindrance to progress and enlighten- 
ment. Besides this I noticed how they despised 
the government and their fatherland. 

Through this I was reminded of how I had 
heard revolutionists in China say that they had 
allies in all countries (though most numerous in 
Germany) and their aim was to recognize only 
one rider over the ivhole world! 

Upon visiting the reading room of the parlia- 
ment building in Stockholm I found that these 
papers, which are so antagonistic toward Christ- 
ianity and government, had been given a place 
among the other papers. So it must be that they 
are read and sanctioned or tolerated by a majority 
of the country's law makers. A clearer proof that 
we are approaching the revolt spoken of in the 
Word of Prophecy, is not needed. Hereby I seem 



138 

to find that the time is near at hand when the 
"Beast" shall have the power, and no one can sell 
or buy, save he that has the mark of the beast. 

While this revolting power will be followed by 
delusions of anti-Christ and by suffering and 
oppression, which, according to the Word of God, 
will precede the establishment of the Kingdom 
of God on earth, it is at the same time doubtless 
a punishment from God upon those who have mis- 
used their authority on earth. 

Well, my friends, it may be that a martyr's 
crown will be soon extended to those who truly 
want to follow Jesus, even in the "Christian" 
countries. A greater honor could neither be our 
lot than to lay down our lives for Him who gave 
His life for us. Flesh and blood would seem to 
fail us when our dear ones through bloody death 
are taken from us, but from experience I can say 
that the Lord giveth strength in all things, ac- 
cording to our need — and whether we live or die, 
we belong to Him, and we shall "rejoice with joy 
unspeakable and full glory: receiving the end of 
your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 

May the Lord grant us strength to endure unto 
the end! 



The Scandinavian Alliance Mission 

of North America. 

Incorporated 1897 

This foreign missionary organization was 
founded February 17, 1891, by Eev. Frederick 
Franson, whose apostolical simplicity of life, burn- 
ing enthusiasm for the extension of the gospel to 
non-Christian nations, and untiring faithfulness 
in the work until the day of his death has been 
an inspiration to all who have known him. 

The organization has been the foreign mis- 
sionary agency of free evangelical churches and 
people of the Scandinavian races in America. 

God has richly blessed the work from the be- 
ginning, converts being made and gathered into 
churches, schools and homes being established and 
considerable property acquired. The crown of 
martyrdom has also been given to a number of 
missionary heroes of this mission. 

The S. A. M. of N. A. has missions with various 
stations and native helpers in China, Mongolia, 
Japan, India, Africa, and South America. 

In 1913 there were 97 missionaries enrolled 
in the work. 

The Board of Directors has its headquarters 
at 20 N. Ashland Boulevard, Chicago. It is com- 
posed of the following members: 

HONORARY MEMBER: Rev. A. Pohl. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Prof. O. C. Grauer, 
Chairman, 20 N. Ashland Boul.; Mr. J. A. Karlson, Vice- 
Chairman; Rev. C. T. Dyrness, Secretary, 2814 McLean 
Ave.; Prof. M. E, Peterson, Vice-Secretary; Prof. F. Ris- 
berg, Treasurer, 20 N. Ashland Boul.; Rev. J. G. Nelson; 
Mr. J. SkogTund. 



List of Missionaries 

belonging to the CHINA MISSION of the Scan- 
dinavian Alliance Mission of North America, with 
the year in which they first went out to the field. 

Miss Petra M. Aaroe.. 1911 Miss Alma Swanson.. 1891 

Mr. G. Ahlstrand 1891 Mr. H. Swenson 1912 

Mrs. G. Ahlstrand . 1898 Miss Johanna Thor 1912 

Miss Christine Anderson '91 Mr. D. Tornvall 1891 

Mr. C. J. Anderson.. ..1891 Mrs. D. Tornvall 1891 

Mrs. C. J. Anderson.. 1891 Miss Charlotte Wallen- 

Miss Gina S. Anderson 1902 berg 1894 

Miss Mary Anderson.. 1891 Miss Jennie Wedicson 1899 

Mr. E. R. Beckman... 1891 Mr. W. Hagquist 1891 

Mr. O. Bengtsson 1894 Mrs. W. Hagquist 1892 

Mrs. O. Bengtsson. . . . 1905 Miss Ingeborg M. Hane- 

Mr. S. Bergstrom 1894 berg 1911 

Mrs. S, Bergstrom 1891 Mr. N. C. Jakobsen... 1911 

Miss Elvida Edlund... 1911 Miss Anna Jensen.... 1903 

Mr. W. Englund 1903 Mr. C. J. Jensen 1899 

Mrs. W. Englund 1894 Mrs. C. J. Jensen..... 1891 

Mr. A. B. Gjelseth 1907 Miss Kristine Johnson 1912 

Mr. F. A. Gustafson... 1892 Miss Thilda Johnson.. 1891 

Mrs. F. A. Gustafson.. 1893 Miss Dorothy Lindvall 1891 

Mr. E. Palmberg 1902 Miss Hannah Lundvail 1894 

Mrs. E. Palmberg 1903 Miss Katarine Moll... 1912 

Mr. G. Palmberg 1902 Mr. J. G. Nelson 1891 

Mrs. G. Palmberg 1902 Mrs. J. G. Nelson 1891 

Mr. E. M. Paulson 1903 Mr. P. Nelson 1891 

Mr. T. Pedersen 1910 Mrs. P. Nelson... 1891 

Mrs. T. Pedersen 1910 Miss Lotten Norden. . . 1892 

Miss E. Peterson 1892 Miss Annie Olsen 1892 

Mrs. A. E. Rydberg... 1891 Miss Othelie Olsen 1891 

Miss Alma Strand 1891 Mr. H. Olson 1911 



MARi9 1913 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




016 062 475 9 # 



